English Literature books summary

English Literature books summary

Lancelot away.

Graziano arrives and tells Bassanio that he wants to join him on the trip

to Belmont, where Bassanio plans to go and woo Portia. Bassanio feels that

Graziano is too loud and rude and asks him if he will be able to act more

appropriately. Graziano says that he can, and that he will "put on a sober

habit" (2.2.171). Bassanio then agrees to take him to Belmont.

Act II, Scene Three

Jessica, the daughter of Shylock, meets with Lancelot and tells him that

she will miss him after he leaves to go work for Bassanio. She hands him a

letter to take to Lorenzo, who is supposed to be a guest of Bassanio's that

night. After Lancelot leaves, Jessica remarks,

"Alack, what heinous sin is it in me

To be ashamed to be my father's child!

But though I am a daughter to his blood,

I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo,

If thou keep promise I shall end this strife,

Become a Christian and thy loving wife.

Jessica thus informs the audience that she is in love with Lorenzo, a

Christian. She intends to meet him soon and run away from her father's

house in order to marry Lorenzo.

Act II, Scene Four

Lorenzo, Graziano, Salerio and Solanio are preparing for a masque that

night. Lancelot arrives with the letter from Jessica and hands it to

Lorenzo. Lorenzo reads it and tells Lancelot to inform Jessica that he will

not fail her. Lancelot leaves to bring the news to Jessica, and also to

invite Shylock to Bassanio's house for dinner.

After the other two men leave, Lorenzo shows Graziano the letter from

Jessica. He tells his friend that he and Jessica plan to steal away from

her father's house that night, along with a great deal of her father's gold

and jewels.

Act II, Scene Five

Shylock informs Lancelot that he will have to judge for himself whether

Bassanio is a better master. He then calls Jessica, hands her the keys to

the house, and tells her that he must leave for dinner that evening.

Lancelot tells Shylock that there will likely be a masque that night. At

this news, Shylock orders Jessica to lock up the house and not look out the

windows. He says, "Let not the sound of shallow fopp'ry enter / My sober

house" (2.5.34-35).

As Shylock gets ready to depart, Lancelot privately tells Jessica that

Lorenzo will come for her that night. She is grateful for the message, and

after Shylock leaves she comments that, "I have a father, you a daughter

lost" (2.5.55).

Act II, Scene Six

Salerio and Graziano are part of the masquers partying through the street

of Venice. They stop and wait for Lorenzo, who has asked them to meet him

at a certain spot. Lorenzo arrives and thanks them for their patience. He

then calls out to Jessica, who appears in the window of Shylock's house

dressed as a man. She throws out a casket to Lorenzo filled with much of

her father's gold and jewels. Jessica then goes back inside and steals even

more ducats (golden coins) before joining the men on the street.

Everyone departs except for Bassanio, who unexpectedly meets Antonio.

Antonio tells him to get to the ship heading for Belmont, because the wind

has started blowing the right way and the ship is ready to depart.

Act II, Scene Seven

The Prince of Morocco is brought into a room containing three caskets,

gold, silver and lead. Portia tells him to make his choice. The Prince

reads the inscriptions on all the caskets. Gold reads: "Who chooseth me

shall gain what many men desire" (2.7.5). The silver casket has, "Who

chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves" (2.7.7). Finally, the dull

lead casket bears the inscription, "Who chooseth me must give and hazard

all he hath" (2.7.9).

Portia tells the Prince that the correct casket, or the one that will allow

him to marry her, contains a miniature picture of her likeness. The Prince

looks over all the inscriptions a second time, and decides that lead is too

threatening and not worth risking anything for. He also spurns the silver,

which he feels is too base a metal to hold such a beautiful woman as

Portia. The Prince therefore chooses gold.

Portia hands him the key, and he opens the casket to reveal a golden skull.

The skull holds a written scroll that poetically indicates that he chose

superficially. The Prince departs after a hasty farewell. Portia watches

him go, and remarks, "A gentle riddance. Draw the curtains, go. / Let all

of his complexion choose me so" (2.7.78-79).

Act II, Scene Eight

Salerio and Solanio meet in the street and discuss the hasty departure of

Bassanio and Graziano for Belmont. They further tell the audience that

Shylock returned home and discovered his daughter had run away with

Lorenzo. Shylock then woke up the Duke of Venice and tried to stop

Bassanio's ship, which had already set sail. Antonio assured Shylock that

Jessica was not on board the ship, but rather had been seen in a gondola

with Lorenzo. However, Shylock continues to blame Antonio for the loss of

his daughter and his money.

Solanio informs Salerio that Shylock was later seen in the streets crying,

"My daughter! O, my ducats! O, my daughter!

Fled with a Christian! O, my Christian ducats!

Justice! The law! My ducats and my daughter!

A sealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats,"

Solanio is worried about Antonio, whom he says had better repay his bond

with Shylock on time, because Shylock is furious about losing his daughter

and his money and blames Antonio for it. Salerio indicates that a Frenchman

mentioned a Venetian vessel had sunk in the English Channel the day before.

Both men hope that it is not Antonio's ship.

Act II, Scene Nine

The Prince of Aragon arrives in Belmont and decides to choose from among

the three caskets. Portia takes him into the room and makes him recite the

oath never to reveal which casket he chooses, and further to promise never

to marry should he choose the incorrect casket. The Prince of Aragon agrees

and starts to read the inscriptions.

He rejects lead because of the ominous warning, and thinks that gold refers

to the foolish populace. Instead he chooses silver which indicates he will

receive what he deserves. The Prince takes the key and opens the casket to

reveal a "blinking idiot" (2.9.53). The scroll indicates that those who are

self-loving deserve to be called idiots, and would not make good husbands

for Portia. The Prince is upset by his choice, but is forced to leave.

Portia is happy that the Prince has chosen the wrong casket. Her messenger

comes into the room at that moment and informs her that a young Venetian

has just arrived. Portia goes to see who it is, while Nerissa secretly

wishes that it might be Bassanio.

Act III, Scene One

Solanio and Salerio discuss the rumor that Antonio has lost yet a second

ship. Shylock enters and complains that both Solanio and Salerio had

something to do with his daughter's flight. They do not deny it, but

instead ask Shylock if he has heard about Antonio's losses.

Shylock tells them that Antonio should "look to his bond" and make sure he

repays the money, or else Shylock is planning on taking his pound of flesh.

Shylock is furious with Antonio, whom he blames for the loss of Jessica,

and also bears an older grudge against the man. He then delivers his famous

soliloquy, "Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions,

senses, affections, passions..." (3.1.49-50). The speech concludes with

Shylock saying that he will be revenged for all the times he has been

treated badly by Christians.

One of Antonio's servants arrives and bids Solanio and Salerio to go to

Antonio's house. They leave, and Tubal, another Jew, arrives to speak with

Shylock. Tubal has been in Genoa, where he tried to locate Jessica. He

tells Shylock that Jessica had been in the city, and had spent over eighty

ducats while there. She had also traded a turquoise ring for a monkey, a

ring which Shylock regrets losing because he had received it from his wife

Leah. However, Tubal also brings Shylock news that Antonio has lost yet a

third ship, and is almost certain to go bankrupt in the near future.

Shylock is excited by this news, since he has decided that he would rather

exact revenge on Antonio than receive his three thousand ducats back.

Act III, Scene Two

Portia tells Bassanio that she wants him to wait a month or two before

choosing from the caskets so that she may be guaranteed his company for a

while longer. Bassanio tells her that he is desperate to choose, and feels

like he is being tortured the longer he waits. Portia finally agrees to

take him into the room with the caskets.

Portia orders music to be played for Bassanio, and one of her servants

starts to sing a song in which the rhymes all rhyme with lead. Bassanio

speaks directly to the audience and tells them that too many things are

gilded and coated with ornaments. He therefore decides to do away with

gold, comparing it to Midas' greed. The silver casket he also ignores,

saying it resembles money and is therefore too common. He thus chooses the

lead casket and finds Portia's picture inside.

Bassanio is overjoyed by the picture and remarks that it is a beautiful

"counterfeit". He then takes the scroll and reads it: "You that choose not

by the view / Chance as fair and choose as true" (3.2.131-132). Bassanio

goes over to Portia with the note, and she offers him everything she owns,

including herself. Portia then hands Bassanio a ring as a token of her love

and commitment and tells him never to lose it. He promises, telling her

that if he ever stops wearing the ring it will be because he is dead.

Graziano then informs them that he would like to be married as well. He

tells Bassanio and Portia that he and Nerissa (the chambermaid to Portia)

are in love. Bassanio is thrilled for his friend and agrees to let them get

married as well.

Jessica, Lorenzo and Salerio arrive at Belmont. Bassanio is happy to see

all of them, but Salerio then hands him a letter from Antonio. Bassanio

turns pale at the news that Antonio has lost his fortune and his ships, and

he asks Salerio if it is true that all of Antonio's ventures have failed.

Salerio tells him it is true, and that Shylock is so excited about getting

his pound of flesh that even if Antonio could repay him he would likely

refuse it.

Portia asks what amount of money Antonio owes to Shylock, and then orders

Bassanio to return to Venice and offer Shylock six thousand ducats to

destroy the contract. She informs Bassanio and Graziano that she and

Nerissa will live like widows in their absence. They all agree to get

married first and then go straight to Venice to rescue Antonio.

Act III, Scene Three

Shylock has come to watch Antonio be taken away by a jailer. Antonio pleads

with Shylock to listen to him, but Shylock says, "I have sworn an oath that

I will have my bond," (3.3.4) and refuses to listen to any of the pleas for

mercy. After Shylock departs, Antonio tells Solanio that Shylock hates him

because he used to loan money to men who were in debt to Shylock, thus

preventing Shylock from collecting the forfeiture. Antonio is prepared to

pay his "bloody creditor" the next day in court, but prays that Bassanio

will arrive in time to watch him die.

Act III, Scene Four

Portia and Nerissa, worried about their new husbands, tell Lorenzo that

they are going to stay at a local monastery for a few days in order to

pray. After Lorenzo and Jessica leave, Portia sends her servant Balthasar

to her cousin Doctor Bellario with instructions that Balthasar should bring

anything Bellario gives him to Venice. Portia then informs Nerissa that

they are going to dress up as men and go to Venice in order to help their

husbands.

Act III, Scene Five

Lancelot and Jessica are in an argument over whether she can be saved by

God since she was born a Jew. Lancelot tells her that since both her

parents are Jews, she is damned. She protests that she can be saved once

she becomes a Christian because her husband Lorenzo is a Christian.

Lancelot then makes a joke, and says that Lorenzo is a bad man because by

converting all the Jews he is raising the price of pork (since Jews do not

eat pork, but Christians do). Lorenzo then arrives and orders Lancelot to

go inside and prepare the table for dinner. He and Jessica praise Portia

for being such a wonderful hostess before entering the house to get their

dinner.

Act IV, Scene One

Antonio is brought before the Duke and the magnificoes of Venice to stand

trial for failing to pay off his obligation to Shylock. The Duke is upset

about the penalty, a pound of Antonio's flesh, but cannot find any lawful

way of freeing Antonio from his bond. Shylock enters the court and the Duke

tells him that all of the men gathered there expect him to pardon Antonio

and forgive the debt.

Shylock replies that he has already sworn by his Sabbath that he will take

his pound of flesh from Antonio. He is unable to provide a good reason for

wanting to punish Antonio in this manner, other than to say, "So can I give

no reason, nor I will not, / More than a lodged hate and a certain loathing

/ I bear Antonio" (4.1.58-60).

Bassanio then comes forward and offers Shylock the six thousand ducats as

repayment for the loan. Shylock tells him that even if there were six times

as much money offered to him, he would not take it. The Duke asks Shylock,

"How shalt thou hope for mercy, rend'ring none?" (4.1.87). Shylock responds

that he is doing nothing wrong, and compares his contract with Antonio to

the Christian slave trade. He tells the Duke that he does not demand that

the Christians should free their slaves, and therefore the Christians

should not demand that he free Antonio.

The Duke threatens to dismiss the court without settling the suit brought

by Shylock if Doctor Bellario fails to arrive. Salerio tells him that a

messenger has just come from Bellario, and Nerissa enters dressed as a man

and informs the Duke that Bellario has sent a letter to him. Shylock whets

his knife on his shoe, confident that he will receive his pound of flesh.

The letter from Bellario recommends a young and educated doctor to

arbitrate the case. The Duke asks where the young doctor is, and Nerissa

tells him that he is waiting outside to be admitted into the court. The

Duke orders him to be brought in, and Portia enters dressed as a man,

pretending to be a doctor named Balthasar.

Portia tells the Duke that she has thoroughly studied the case and then

asks, "Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?" (4.1.169). Antonio

and Shylock both step forward, and Portia asks Antonio if he confesses to

signing the contract. He does, and Portia then says that Shylock therefore

must be merciful. She delivers a short speech on mercy, but Shylock ignores

it and demands the contract be fulfilled. Portia then asks if no one has

been able to repay the amount, but since Shylock has refused the money

there is nothing she can do to make him take it. She comments that she must

therefore side with Shylock.

Shylock, impressed that Portia is supporting his case, says, "A Daniel come

to judgment, yea, a Daniel!" (4.1.218). Portia rules that Shylock has the

right to claim a pound of flesh from next to Antonio's heart according to

the bond. Antonio's bosom is laid bare and Shylock gets ready to cut.

Portia asks him if he has a surgeon ready to stop the bleeding once he has

taken his pound of flesh. Shylock says, "I cannot find it. 'Tis not in the

bond" (4.1.257).

Just as Shylock is about to start cutting again, Portia says that the bond

does not give him permission to shed Antonio's blood. The laws of Venice

are such that if any Venetian's blood is shed, all the goods and lands of

the perpetrator may be confiscated by the state. Shylock realizes that he

cannot cut the flesh without drawing blood, and instead agrees to take the

money instead. However, Portia is not willing to back down and instead only

gives him the pound of flesh, further saying that if he takes a tiny bit

more or less he will be put to death himself. Shylock, unable to comply

with this stipulation, decides to withdraw his case.

Portia tells Shylock to remain in the court. She says that Venice has a

further law which says that if any foreigner tries to kill a Venetian, the

foreigner will have half of his property go to the Venetian against whom he

plotted, and the state will receive the other half. In addition, the life

of the foreigner will be in the hands of the Duke, who may decide to do

whatever he wants to. Shylock is forced to kneel on the ground before the

court, but the Duke pardons his life before he can beg for mercy.

Shylock instead asks the Duke to kill him, saying, "Nay, take my life and

all, pardon not that. / You take my house when you do take the prop / That

doth sustain my house; you take my life /When you do take the means whereby

I live" (4.1.369-373). Antonio intervenes on Shylock's behalf, and asks the

Duke to allow Shylock to keep half of his wealth. He further offers to take

care of the half he was awarded as a form of inheritance for Jessica and

Lorenzo. The only requirements Antonio puts on his offer are that Shylock

must convert and become a Christian, and further that he must give

everything he owns to Lorenzo upon his death.

Shylock, wretched and having lost everything he owns, tells the court that

he is content to accept these conditions. The Duke leaves and tells Antonio

to thank the young doctor who has saved his life. Bassanio and Graziano go

to Portia and thank her profusely, and Bassanio offers the young doctor

anything he wants. Portia decides to test her husband's trustworthiness,

and asks him for the engagement ring, the ring which she made him vow never

to part with. He refuses, and Portia and Nerissa leave. However, at

Antonio's urging, Bassanio takes off the ring and gives it to Graziano,

telling him to take it to Portia and invite her to dinner that night at

Antonio's.

Act IV, Scene Two

Portia gives Nerissa the deed by which Shylock will pass his inheritance to

Lorenzo. She tells Nerissa to take it to Shylock's house and make him sign

it. At the moment Graziano catches up with the two women and gives the ring

to Portia. She is surprised that Bassanio parted with it after all, and

Nerissa decides to test Graziano in the same way. Nerissa takes the deed

and asks Graziano to show her the way to Shylock's house.

Act V, Scene One

Lorenzo and Jessica, still at Belmont, sit outside and enjoy the night.

They compare the night to the stories of Troilus and Cressida, Pyramus and

Thisbe, and Dido and Aeneus, and then extend the analogy to their own love

affair. They are interrupted by Stefano, who tells them that Portia is

returning home with Nerissa. Lancelot then arrives and informs Lorenzo that

Bassanio will also be back by morning. Both Lorenzo and Jessica return to

the house and listen to music.

Portia and Nerissa, dressed as themselves again, return home and enter the

building. Lorenzo recognizes Portia's voice and comes to greet her. She

orders the servants to pretend as if she had never left, and asks Lorenzo

and Jessica to do the same. Soon thereafter Bassanio, Graziano and Antonio

arrive.

Nerissa demands that Graziano show her the ring he gave away to Portia's

"clerk" in Venice. They start to argue over it, with Graziano defending his

action as a form of kindness for Antonio. Portia overhears them and

pretends to "discover" what happened. She then demands that Bassanio show

her his ring, which he of course cannot do. Portia and Nerissa then berate

their husbands for giving away the rings, and even tell them that they

would prefer to sleep with the doctor and his clerk rather than with their

unfaithful husbands.

Antonio offers his assurance that neither Bassanio nor Graziano will ever

give away their wives' gifts again. Portia thanks him and asks him to give

Bassanio another ring to keep. Bassanio looks at the ring and recognizes it

as being the same ring he gave away. Portia then tells him that the doctor

came back to Belmont and slept with her. Bassanio is amazed and does not

know how to respond.

Portia finally clears up the confusion by informing Bassanio that she and

Nerissa were the doctor and the clerk. She further has good news for

Antonio, namely a letter that indicates that three of his ships arrived in

port safely. Nerissa then hands Lorenzo the deed from Shylock in which he

inherits everything after Shylock dies. The play ends with Graziano

promising to forever keep Nerissa's ring safe.

Othello

Act I, scene i:

Othello begins in the city of Venice, at night; Roderigo is having a

discussion with Iago, who is bitter at being passed up as Othello's

lieutenant. Though Iago had greater practice in battle and in military

matters, Cassio, a man of strategy but of little experience, was named

lieutenant by Othello. Iago says that he only serves Othello to further

himself, and makes shows of his allegiance only for his own gain; he is

playing false, and admits that his nature is not at all what it seems. Iago

is aware that the daughter of Brabantio, a Venetian nobleman of some

stature, has run off with Othello, the black warrior of the Moors.

Desdemona is Brabantio's daughter, and Brabantio, and many others, know

nothing of this coupling; Iago decides to enlist Roderigo, who lusts after

Desdemona, and awaken Brabantio with screams that his daughter is gone.

At first, Brabantio dismisses these cries in the dark; but when he realizes

his daughter is not there, he gives the news some credence. Roderigo is the

one speaking most to Brabantio, but Iago is there too, hidden, yelling

unsavory things about Othello and his intentions toward Desdemona.

Brabantio panics, and calls for people to try and find his daughter; Iago

leaves, not wanting anyone to find out that he betrayed his own leader, and

Brabantio begins to search for his daughter.

Act I, scene ii:

Iago has now joined Othello, and has told Othello about Roderigo's betrayal

of the news of his marriage to Brabantio's daughter. He tells Othello that

Brabantio is upset, and will probably try to tear Desdemona from him.

Cassio comes at last, as do Roderigo and Brabantio; Iago threatens Roderigo

with violence, again making a false show of his loyalty to Othello.

Brabantio is very angry, swearing that Othello must have bewitched his

daughter, and that the state will not decide for him in this case. Othello

says that the Duke must hear him, and decide in his favor, or else all is

far from right in Venice.

Act I, scene iii:

Military conflict is challenging the Venetian stronghold of Cyprus; there

are reports that Turkish ships are heading toward the island, which means

some defense will be necessary. Brabantio and Othello enter the assembled

Venetian leaders, who are discussing this military matter, and Brabantio

announces his grievance against Othello for marrying his daughter. Othello

addresses the company, admitting that he did marry Desdemona, but wooed her

with stories, and did her no wrongs. Desdemona comes to speak, and she

confirms Othello's words; Brabantio's grievance is denied, and Desdemona

will indeed stay with Othello. However, Othello is called away to Cyprus,

to help with the conflict there; he begs that Desdemona be able to go with

him, since they have been married for so little time. Othello and Desdemona

win their appeal, and Desdemona is to stay with Iago, until she can come to

Cyprus and meet Othello there.

Roderigo is upset that Desdemona and Othello's union was allowed to stand,

since he lusts after Desdemona. But Iago assures him that the match will

not last long, and at any time, Desdemona could come rushing to him. Iago

wants to break up the couple, using Roderigo as his pawn, out of malice and

his wicked ability to do so.

Act II, scene i:

A terrible storm has struck Cyprus, just as the Turks were about to

approach. This might mean that the Turkish attack will not happen; but it

also bodes badly for Othello's ship. A messenger enters, and confirms that

the Turkish fleet was broken apart by the storm, and that Cassio has

arrived, though Othello is still at sea. They spot a ship coming forth; but

Iago, Desdemona, and Emilia are on it, not Othello. Cassio greets them all,

especially praising Desdemona; somehow, Iago and Desdemona enter into an

argument about what women are, and Iago shows how little praise he believes

women deserve. Othello arrives at last, and is very glad to see his wife

arrived, much earlier than expected; he and Desdemona make public signs of

their love, and then depart. Iago speaks to Roderigo, convincing him that

Desdemona will stray from Othello, as she has already done with Cassio. He

convinces Roderigo to attack Cassio that night, as he plans to visit

mischief on both Othello and Cassio.

Act II, scene ii:

Othello's herald enters, to proclaim that the Turks are not going to

attack, all should be joyful, and Othello is celebrating the happiness of

his recent marriage.

Act II, scene iii:

Iago and Cassio are on the watch together; Iago gets Cassio to drink a bit,

knowing that he cannot hold his liquor at all. Iago also tries to get

Cassio's feelings about Desdemona, and make her seem tempting to him; but

his intentions are innocent and friendly, so this approach fails. Cassio

leaves for a bit, and Iago says that he intends to get Cassio drunk, that

will hopefully cause a quarrel between Cassio and Roderigo, who has been

stirred up against Cassio. Iago wants to see Cassio discredited through

this, so that he might take Cassio's place. Montano and others come, and

Iago entertains them with small talk and song; soon, Cassio is drunk, and

Roderigo has approached. Cassio fights offstage with Roderigo, and comes

forth, chasing him; Montano tries to hinder Cassio, but Cassio just ends up

injuring him. All the noise wakes Othello, who comes down to figure out

what has happened. Montano tells what he knows of it all, and Iago fills in

the rest‹making sure to fictionalize his part in it all too. Cassio is

stripped of his rank, and all leave Cassio and Iago alone.

Cassio laments that he has lost his reputation, which is very dear to him.

Iago tries to convince him that a reputation means little; and, if he talks

to Desdemona, maybe he can get her to vouch for him with Othello. This will

help Iago get the impression across that Desdemona and Cassio are together,

which will make Othello very angry if it works. Iago then gives a soliloquy

about knowing that Desdemona will speak for Cassio, and that he will be

able to turn that against them both.

Act III, scene i:

The third act begins with a little bit of comic relief; a clown is mincing

words with a few musicians, then has a little wordplay with Cassio, who

bids the clown to go and see if Desdemona will speak with him. Iago enters,

and Cassio tells him that he means to speak to Desdemona, so that she may

clear things up with Othello. Emilia comes out, and bids Cassio to come in

and speak with Desdemona about his tarnished reputation.

Act III, scene ii:

Othello gives Iago some letters that need to be delivered back to Venice,

which Iago is in turn supposed to give to a ship's pilot who is sailing

back to Venice.

Act III, scene iii:

Desdemona decides that she wants to advocate for Cassio. She tells Emilia

so, and that she believes Cassio is a good person, and has been wronged in

this case; she pledges to do everything she can to persuade her husband to

take Cassio back. Cassio speaks with her briefly, but leaves just as

Othello enters because he does not wish for a confrontation. Iago seizes on

this opportunity to play on Othello's insecurities, and make Cassio's exit

seem guilty and incriminating. Othello then speaks to Desdemona, and

Desdemona expresses her concern for Cassio; she is persistent in his suit,

which Othello is not too pleased about. Othello says he will humor her, and

the subject is dropped for a while.

Iago then plays on Othello's insecurities about Desdemona, and gets Othello

to believe, through insinuation, that there is something going on between

Desdemona and Cassio. Othello seizes on this, and then Iago works at

building up his suspicions. Soon, Othello begins to doubt his wife, as Iago

lets his insinuations gain the force of an accusation against her. Othello

begins to voice his insecurities when it comes to Desdemona, and himself as

well. Desdemona enters, and they have a brief conversation; Othello admits

that he is troubled, though he will not state the cause.

Desdemona drops the handkerchief that Othello gave her on their honeymoon;

Emilia knew that her husband had wanted it for something, so she doesn't

feel too guilty about taking it. Emilia gives it to Iago, who decides to

use the handkerchief for his own devices. Othello re-enters, and tells Iago

that he now doubts his wife; Othello demands "ocular proof" of Desdemona's

dishonesty, so Iago sets about making stories up about Cassio talking in

his sleep, and says that Cassio has the handkerchief that Othello gave to

Desdemona. Iago knows how important this handkerchief is to Othello; it was

his first gift to Desdemona, and was given to him by his mother. Othello is

incensed to hear that Desdemona would give away something so valuable, and

is persuaded by Iago's insinuations and claims to believe that Desdemona is

guilty. Othello then swears to have Cassio dead, and to be revenged upon

Desdemona for the non-existent affair.

Act III, scene iv:

Desdemona asks the clown where Cassio is; the clown goes off to fetch him.

Desdemona is looking everywhere for the handkerchief, very sorry to have

lost it; she knows that her losing it will upset Othello greatly, although

she claims he is not so jealous that he will think ill of the loss. Othello

enters, and asks for Desdemona's handkerchief; she admits that she does not

have it, and then Othello tells her of its significance and alleged magical

powers. Desdemona does not like Othello's tone; he seems obsessed with this

object, and Desdemona is so frightened by him that she wishes she had

nothing to do with it. She interrupts Othello's inquiry by bringing up

Cassio's attempt to get back into Othello's favor; Othello becomes angry,

and storms out. Desdemona and Emilia both note that Othello is much

changed; he is unkind and seems jealous, and they are suspicious of the

change in him.

Cassio then enters, with Iago; he laments that his suit is not successful,

and that Othello does not seem likely to take him back. Desdemona is sorry

for this, since she knows that Cassio is a man of worth; she tells Cassio

and Iago that Othello has been acting strange, and is upset, and Iago goes

to look for him, feigning concern. Emilia thinks that Othello's change has

something to do with Desdemona, or Othello's jealous nature; they still

cannot fathom what has happened, and exit, leaving Cassio.

Bianca comes in, and Cassio asks her to copy the handkerchief that he found

in his room; it is Desdemona's handkerchief, though Cassio has no idea. He

claims he does not love her, and gets angry at her for allegedly suspecting

that the handkerchief is a gift of another woman. But, Bianca is not

disturbed, and leaves with the handkerchief.

Act IV, scene i:

Othello is trying, even after swearing that Desdemona was unfaithful, not

to condemn her too harshly. He is talking with Iago about the handkerchief

still, and its significance in being found; but, soon, Iago whips Othello

into an even greater fury through mere insinuation, and Othello takes the

bait. Othello falls into a trance of rage, and Iago decides to hammer home

his false ideas about his wife. Iago calls Cassio in, while Othello hides;

Iago speaks to Cassio of Bianca, but Othello, in his disturbed state,

believes that Cassio is talking of Desdemona, which is the last "proof" he

needs before declaring his wife guilty. Bianca comes in, and gives the

handkerchief back to Cassio, since she swears she will have nothing to do

with it.

Othello is incensed by Cassio, still believing that he was speaking of

Desdemona, rather than Bianca. Now, Othello is resolved to kill Desdemona

himself, and charges Iago with murdering Cassio. Ludovico, a noble Venetian

whom Desdemona knows, has recently landed; Desdemona and Othello welcome

him there. But, when Desdemona mentions Cassio, Othello becomes very angry

and slaps her in front of everyone; she rushes off, very upset. Ludovico

especially is shocked at this change in Othello, and has no idea how such a

noble man could act so cruelly.

Act IV, scene ii:

Othello questions Emilia about Desdemona's guilt, or the chance she has had

an affair with Cassio. Emilia admits to having seen nothing, though Othello

does not believe her. Emilia swears that she has seen and heard all that

has gone on between Cassio and Desdemona, and that Desdemona is pure and

true. Othello believes that Emilia is in on all this too; he accuses

Desdemona, and her insistence that she is innocent only infuriates him

further. Othello leaves, and Desdemona and Emilia try to figure out what

has happened to Othello, and what they can do; Desdemona feels especially

helpless, and Emilia is very angry. Emilia thinks that someone has

manipulated Othello into accusing Desdemona, and has poisoned his mind;

however, Iago is there to dispel this opinion, so that Emilia does not

inquire further into her theory. Upon leaving the women, Iago comes across

Roderigo; he is not pleased with how Iago has handled things, and knows

that although Iago is promising him Desdemona's favor, he has done nothing

to indicate that he has worked to achieve this. Iago quiets him by making

him believe that if he kills Cassio, then he will win Desdemona; Roderigo

decides to go along with it, but Iago is coming dangerously close to being

revealed.

Act IV, scene iii:

Othello tells Desdemona to go to bed, and dismiss Emilia; Emilia regrets

Desdemona's marriage, although Desdemona cannot say that she does not love

Othello. Desdemona knows that she will die soon; she sings a song of

sadness and resignation, and decides to give herself to her fate. Desdemona

asks Emilia whether she would commit adultery to win her husband the world.

Emilia, the more practical one, thinks that it is not too big a price for a

small act; Desdemona is too good, and too devout, to say that she would do

so.

Act V, scene i:

Iago has Roderigo poised and ready to pounce on Cassio, and kill him; if

either of them is killed, it is to Iago's benefit, although he would like

to have both of them disposed of, so that his devices might not be

discovered. Roderigo and Cassio fight, and both are injured; Othello hears

the scuffle, is pleased, and then leaves to finish off Desdemona. Iago

enters, pretending that he knows nothing of the scuffle; Gratiano and

Ludovico also stumble upon the scene, having no idea what has happened.

Roderigo is still alive, so Iago feigns a quarrel, and finishes him off.

Bianca comes by, and sees Cassio wounded; Iago makes some remark to

implicate her; Cassio is carried away, and Roderigo is already dead. Emilia

also comes in, and pins more blame on Bianca; she has done nothing, but

Iago has some quick work to do if he is to exonerate himself in this mess.

Act V, scene ii:

Othello enters Desdemona's room while she is asleep; and though she is

beautiful, and appears innocent, he still is determined to kill her. He

justifies this with images, metaphors, and ideas of her rebirth after

death, and though his rage is softened, he is still much mistaken about

her. Desdemona awakens, and he tells her to repent of any sins before she

dies; she believes there is nothing she can do to stop him from killing

her, and continues to assert her innocence. Othello tells her that he found

her handkerchief with Cassio, though Desdemona insists it must not be true;

she pleads with Othello not to kill her right then, but he begins to

smother her. Emilia knocks, curious about what is going on; Othello lets

her in, but tries to conceal Desdemona, who he thinks is already dead.

Emilia brings the news of Roderigo's death, and Cassio's wounding.

Emilia soon finds out that Desdemona is nearly dead, by Othello's hand;

Desdemona speaks her last words, and then Emilia pounces on Othello for

committing this horrible crime. Othello is not convinced of his folly until

Iago confesses his part, and Cassio speaks of the use of the handkerchief;

then, Othello is overcome with grief. Iago stabs Emilia for telling all

about his plots, and then Emilia dies; the Venetian nobles reveal that

Brabantio, Desdemona's father, is dead, and so cannot be grieved by this

tragedy now. Othello stabs Iago when he is brought back in; Othello then

tells all present to remember him how he is, and kills himself. Cassio

becomes temporary leader of the troops at Cyprus, and Lodovico and Gratiano

are supposed to carry the news of the tragedy back to Venice. Iago is taken

into custody, and his crimes will be judged back in Venice.

Richard III

Act One, Scene One

Richard gives a short speech detailing his plot against his brother

Clarence, who comes before him as heir to the throne of England. Richard

has just succeeded in having Clarence arrested and it as a prisoner that

Clarence walks onto the stage, guarded by Sir Robert Brackenbury.

Richard asks Clarence what the reason for his arrest is. Clarence replies

that someone told King Edward that a person with a name starting with the

letter "G" would cause his family to lose the throne. Since Clarence's full

name is George, Duke of Clarence, he was considered to be the primary

suspect. Richard complains that this arrest is the result of the women

plotting against Clarence, most notably Queen Elizabeth and possibly also

Mrs. Shore.

Brackenbury tells the men he is not allowed to let anyone converse with the

prisoner, and takes Clarence into the Tower of London. Richard comments

that he will soon remove Clarence permanently and thus clear the path to

the throne for himself.

Lord Hastings, also known as Lord Chamberlain, emerges from the Tower,

having just been freed. Lord Hastings tells Richard that King Edward IV is

sickly and ailing, and cannot hope to live much longer. After he departs,

Richard remarks that he will first have Edward kill Clarence. This will put

Richard into a position where upon Edward's death he can assume the throne.

He also plots to marry Lady Anne Neville, who is the widow of Edward,

Prince of Wales and the daughter-in-law of Henry VI, whom Richard just

killed.

Act One, Scene Two

Lady Anne enters the stage accompanied by halberdiers who are carrying an

open coffin with King Henry VI in it. She asks the men to stop, during

which time she laments the death of the king. Lady Anne then curses any

future children which Richard might have, and prays that after Richard's

death his future wife will know even more grief than Lady Anne currently

feels.

Richard enters and is immediately cursed by Lady Anne for his role in the

death of her husband. Richard tries to woo her by telling how lovely he

thinks she it, but Lady Anne scorns him after each attempt. He finally

tells her that he killed her husband so that he alone could love her. In a

moment of decision, Richard bends down on his knees and tells her to kill

him if she cannot forgive him. She replies, "I will not be thy executioner"

(1.2.172)

Richard stands up and proposes marriage to her, succeeding in making Lady

Anne wear his ring. He tells her to go wait for him in one of his London

residences while he mourns the death of Henry VI. Lady Anne leaves after

saying farewell to Richard, who delivers a soliloquy in which he expresses

surprise about the fact that she seems to like his looks.

Act One, Scene Three

Queen Elizabeth enters the stage with Lord Rivers and Lord Gray. They

discuss the fact that King Edward is ill. Queen Elizabeth is apprehensive

about her future if he should die. She remarks that Richard Gloucester

becomes her son's Protector if Edward passes away, and that Richard does

not like her or her companions.

The Duke of Buckingham and Lord Stanley arrive. They have just been to see

the king, and they inform Queen Elizabeth that he is looking well.

Buckingham informs her that the king want to meet with her brothers and

with Richard in order to get them to make peace.

Richard and Lord Hastings enter the room, with Richard complaining bitterly

about the lies which "they" tell the king. When asked who "they" are,

Richard implicates the queen's brother, Lord Rivers, and her two sons. He

then blames them for the recent imprisonment of Lord Hastings, and for the

current jailing of his brother Clarence. Queen Elizabeth is outraged at

these suggestions, and threatens to tell the king.

Queen Margaret arrives, she is the widow of Henry VI and the mother of

Edward whom Richard killed. She speaks directly to the audience, without

the other characters hearing her. She remarks that Queen Elizabeth has her

to thank for the throne, and calls Richard a devil for the murders he

committed.

Richard defends himself vehemently, pointing out his fierce loyalty to his

brother Edward. He then points out the fact that the Queen and her brother

fought against his brother in the war between the House of Lancaster and

the House of York, to which Richard belongs.

Queen Margaret, fed up with the arguments and accusations, steps forward

and addresses them all. She plans to tell them once again about how Richard

killed her son Edward, but all of the gathered characters attack her for

having killed Rutland. This refers to a previous play in which Margaret

crowns the Duke of York with a paper crown and waves a handkerchief dipped

in his son Rutland's blood in front of his eyes. She tells them that

because her Edward died, so too must the current Edward, Prince of Wales

meet his death.

Following several curses made by Margaret, most of which are directed at

Richard, the entire company is summoned into King Edward's chambers.

Richard remains behind and meets with two murderers whom he sends to kill

Clarence. A revealing quote is when Richard says, "And thus I clothe my

naked villainy / With odd old ends, stol'n forth of Holy Writ," meaning he

hides his crimes with Christian behavior.

Act One, Scene Four

Clarence and Brackenbury enter the stage. Clarence has had a terrible

nightmare in which he breaks free of the Tower and attempts to cross to

Burgundy accompanied by his brother Richard. While on the ship, Richard

stumbles. When Clarence tries to help support him, he is flung into the

ocean by Richard, where he slowly drowns.

Clarence falls asleep with Brackenbury sitting next to him for protection.

The two murderers sent by Richard arrive and hand Brackenbury their

commission. He acknowledges the paper which says to hand his prisoner over

to the two men.

The first murderer has a sudden attack of conscience. He is able to

overcome this by remembering the large reward which Richard is paying him.

The second murderer tells his companion to drive the devil out of his mind,

since the devil is only confusing him. Clarence wakes up and asks for a cup

of wine.

The murders engage Clarence in conversation, and inform him that he will

die. He pleads to their sense of Christianity, at which they list his many

sins, most notably the killing of Henry VI's son Edward. Clarence then begs

the men to talk to Richard, whom he promises will reward them well. They

inform him that Richard is the man who sent them, a fact that Clarence

cannot believe. He seems about to overcome them with his persuasive words

when the first murderer stabs and kills him. The second murderer refuses to

participate, and even declines to receive his part of the reward.

Act Two, Scene One

King Edward enters, followed by most of court who previously went to his

chambers. He carefully orchestrates a scene of friendship after ordering

them to forgive each other. His orders to each man tell them exactly how he

wants them to behave, including whose hand to shake, or who should kiss the

hand of the queen.

Richard enters this farce and is ordered to forget his hatred of the Queen

and her family. He does this, but when the Queen tells him to bring

Clarence back to court, he immediately destroys the entire scene. Richard

replies, "Who knows not that the gentle Duke is dead?" (2.1.80), at which

all the other actors are shocked.

King Edward delivers a brief speech lamenting the fact that his brother

Clarence has been killed by his orders. He recalls the many times that

Clarence saved his life or helped him attain the throne. King Edward then

departs. Richard asks Buckingham if he noticed how guilty the Queen's

kindred looked when the news of Clarence's death was announced.

Act Two, Scene Two

The old Duchess of York, the mother of King Edward, Clarence and Richard,

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