Othello Act V Scene 2

Act V Scene ii

Desdemona’s bedroom.

Desdemona is asleep in bed. Othello enters the bedroom with a candle in his hand.



Othello: I have to kill her no matter what, or else she’ll be repeating her sinful deeds. But I won’t mess with her beauty by shedding blood. When I put out the light of this candle, that is when I put out the light from her heart. While she remains asleep, I should kiss her one more time.(he kisses her) The sweet smell of her persuades me not to let her die. But my intention is to strangle her to death, and nothing, not even her beauty should stray my mind from killing her.

Desdemona wakes up with the last kiss that Othello gives her.



Desdemona: Is that you darling?

Othello: (trying to hide his rage)Yes, Desdemona.

Desdemona: (sweetly)It’s pretty late in the night, aren’t you coming to bed honey?

Othello: (with subtle voice)Desdemona, have you said your payers tonight?

Desdemona: Yes I have, as usual Othello, you know that.

Othello: Very well, than you should know what sin you’ve committed, you might as well confessed that to God,(rages his voice)before your DEATH!

Desdemona’s countenance shows signs of horror. She grabs onto her quilt as if looking for support.

Desdemona: What are you talking about? You make no sense to me at all. You are speaking of death, my death?

Othello: (still with the rage)Yes Desdemona, yes you got that right.

Desdemona looks perplexed.



Desdemona: What sin have I committed, besides loving you Othello?

Othello: You know what Desdemona, you can’t try to cover your ugly side under your flawless skin.(shifts his head away from her to the floor, then looks back into her face)You may look innocent, but who knew, who knew you weren’t. Desdemona I have fallen for you, your beauty, and sweet talks. You just had to ruin it.

Desdemona: I still don’t understand. What confession?! What sin?!



Othello: (his voice sounds cold)SILENCE! How dare you raise your voice in front of me like that when you have no right whatever so for doing such a filthy thing.

Desdemona: Othello, my love, can you please get to the point, because I didn’t commit anything wrong to you(tears in her eyes, voice fraying away)...ever.

Othello: I’m not going to take your fake tears and show mercy on you. Okay, so if you’re not confessing, than you leave me no other choice. You have given Cassio the handkerchief that I have given you. The very handkerchief that I loved and given it to you. How can you give something that represented our love to someone else.

Desdemona: This is bogus...it’s all a lie. No it’s not true. How can you not trust me. Fine, then bring Cassio, for he shall give you the proof.

Othello: Don’t lie on your own deathbed, Desdemona. You cheated on me, and that’s the reality.

Desdemona: (her hands folded before him)Please have mercy, Othello. I have never loved Cassio more than just a loyal friend. He’s only a good friend, just like he is to you. Nothing more.

Othello: Don’t lie. I saw the handkerchief in his hands.

Desdemona: He must’ve found it somewhere, because I didn’t give it to him. Why don’t you just call him over here and he’ll tell you.

Othello: I already know the filthy truth...you slept with him. You slept with him, and that is why I murder you tonight.

Desdemona: He couldn’t have tell you that, has he?

Othello: No need for him to say it. Iago, my trusted buddy told me.(he puts a smirk on his face) He has prepared the end of Cassio’s life.

Desdemona: You don’t mean to say...Cassio’s dead!

Othello: I would kill as many Cassio’s if I have to.

Desdemona: No!(starts weeping) He’s innocent, and so am I.



Othello: And you say that you have no love for him, please, look at you crying for him, and how dare you lie you whore.

Desdemona: Don’t kill me. “Just let me live for tonight!”

Othello: Shut the hole. (Othello wrestles to put her down)

Desdemona: Let me say one prayer, I beg you!

Othello: I’ve given you the chance before, it’s too late now. (he smothers her with a pillow)

Offstage

Emilia calls out for Othello.

Emilia: General Othello! Oh general!

Onstage

Othello: Are you not dead yet. Even though I want you to be killed, I don’t want you suffering for too long.

Offstage

Emilia: General Othello! Can’t you hear me? General Othello!

Onstage

Othello: Who’s there? Is that you Emilia? I’m coming, give me a sec.(to himself)Yes she’s probably come with the news.(looks at Desdemona)She’s dead. Should I let her come in? What if she wants to talk to Desdemona. What should I do?

Offstage

Emilia: Please general, it’s important!

Onstage

Othello: Coming.(he covers Desdemona with the quilt, walks to the door and opens it)

Emilia enters.



Othello: (feeling disturbed)What is the matter?

Emilia: Murders general, murders!

Othello: Say what?

Emilia: Yes sir. Cassio killed Roderigo, a New Yorker.

Othello: (impatient)Is Cassio dead?

Emilia: No general.

Othello: (takes his two hands and puts it over his head, feeling anger)This has gone all wrong, no.

Desdemona: I’ve been accused wrongly.

Emilia uncovers Desdemona . Othello is tensed.

Emilia: madam, what did you say?

Desdemona: I’m dying.

Emilia: Who has done this to you madam?

Desdemona: No one Emilia, no one. I took my own life. Tell Othello I love him.

Desdemona takes her last breath. She dies.



Othello: How did she get killed?

Emilia: Oh God, who knows. Who could’ve done this?

Othello: I didn’t kill her, you heard what she said, didn’t you?

Emilia: I must go and tell about the incident.(Emilia walks with such haste)

Othello: Wait! It was me, I killed Desdemona.(Emilia halts, and turns back)

Emilia: You are so evil.

Othello: She was being unfaithful to me.

Emilia: You killed her for no good reason, you should regret it, because she was guiltless. She was so devoted to you.

Othello: Cassio slept with Desdemona. Now if you don’t trust my words, then go and ask your husband. He told me everything.

Emilia: (shocked) Iago said she was being unfaithful?

Othello: Yes, and if this was not true I would’ve never done this.

Emilia: My husband told you this?

Othello: Yes! Don’t you get it? It’s your husband who said it. The honest friend of mine.

Emilia: You have been given bogus information. My husband, Iago has mocked your love.

Othello takes out his gun.

Othello: Hmm. You have no where to escape.

Emilia: Go ahead kill me all you want, because by doing this won’t take you to heaven. You’ve killed my madam, the innocent one. That’s dreadful enough!

Othello: Will you shut your mouth?

Emilia: Help someone, there has been a murder, madam has been murdered! HELP!

Montano, Gratiano, and Iago barge into the chamber with the sound of Emilia’s cry.

Montano: What’s the matter, general?

Gratiano: What’s up with the noise?

Emilia: So Iago, have you played your noxious game. Think you’re very slick. Did you tell the general that madam has slept with Cassio.? If that’s true then you’ve lied to him.

Iago: Yes I have, indeed. Now keep quiet.

Emilia: No I’ll speak for my madam, because she here lays on her bed dead.



Gratiano, Montano: Oh no!!

Emilia: Iago, your lies have resulted to this murder.

Gratiano: This is astounding. How can this happen?

Montano: This is horrendous!

Emilia: You are no good. You evil thing. You’re a devil. You’ve ruined a peaceful relationship.

Iago: (to Emilia)Go home woman. NOW!

Emilia: I won’t.

Othello: Oh no.

Emilia: I told you. But no you wouldn’t listen. Went on and believed the wrong person.

Gratiano: Poor Desdemona. It’s good that my brother hasn’t lived to see this. Your father died of grief, because of your marriage. He would’ve been more hurt to see you like this.

Othello: Iago told me that she had slept with Cassio several times. Cassio had the handkerchief that I have given Desdemona, which she gave to him. Doesn’t that tell you that she loved him.

Emilia: Oh my God!

Iago: Shut up, and go home, if you know better.

Emilia: No!

Iago takes out his gun and points it to Emilia.

Gratiano: How do you point that gun to her?

Emilia bursts out.

Emilia: You freak, you idiot Moor. I found the handkerchief and handed it to my husband, for which he has told me steal it.

Iago: You slut!



Emilia: I found it and gave it to Iago.

Iago: She’s lying.

Emilia: No I’m not. It’s true. He fooled you, you Moor, you piece of shit.

Othello: What have I done. Go to hell you piece of crap. You made me kill my Desdemona.

Othello dashed at Iago. Iago shoots Emilia.

Gratiano: She’s been shot.

Emilia: Run all you want. You can escape these men, but you can’t escape from God, you’ll end up being in hell.

Gratiano: Iago left, Emilia’s going to die.

Montano: (to Gratiano)I’ll go after Iago, you take the gun from the general.


Gratiano, and Montano exit.

Emilia: (singing Desdemona’s song)“Willow, willow, willow.”- She never was unfaithful you foolish Moor.

Emilia dies.

Offstage



Gratiano: You have got to be killed, Othello. You have committed a grave sin.

Onstage

Othello: (he draws out a gun from inside his robes)Look at this, this is the greatest gun I’ve ever got. One shot of it, and you’re dead. (he talks to himself)Othello, you are so cruel. You are a fool. You have fallen for a lie. A lie that has caused me to kill my only love. Put me to hell God. I’ve done a grave sin. Oh my Desdemona, how could I.

Lodovico and Montano enter, followed by Cassio on a stretcher, and officers holding onto Iago with cuffs.

Lodovico: Where’s that general.

Othello: Looking for Othello? That’s me right here.

Lodovico: Where’s the villain, bring him here.

Iago moves forward. Othello attempts to shoot at him. He gets disarmed.

Lodovico: Take his gun away. Did you plan Cassio’s death with Iago?

Othello: Yes.

Cassio: Othello, my general, my friend, what have I done for you to have such hatred on me.

Othello: Forgive me my man, it was Iago who tricked me.



Lodovico: General, I think you don’t understand this situation very well. Here are two letters that tell about everything. They are from Roderigo. Here, read it for yourself.

Othello reads.

Othello: Oh no this is terrible. Roderigo has also been under his spell. Iago wanted his wealth. This is all awful. He made me have disgust on Cassio, and have me killed Desdemona. All of this for himself.

Cassio: Devil.



Lodovico: Othello, your power and command will be handed over to Cassio here, in Florida. Iago will be prisoner, he deserves torture, and with every torture he should regret that he has ever done this. Othello, you’ll also be arrested under charges of murder, in the meantime your case will be handed over to the New York court.(he orders)Arrest him.

Othello: Wait. I need to say a few words. (referring to Desdemona) I kissed you before I killed you. Now, I’m killing myself, and dying while I kiss you again. (he shoots himself)

Othello kisses Desdemona’s cold dead lips for once more and he dies.

Gratiano: This is sick.

Cassio: What can we say? Who knew he had a gun hidden there. He was a noble man, therefore he did this. I would know so, I’ve been his friend for a long time.

Lodovico: (to Iago)Look at this bloody scene. You are the reason they are all dead. Gratiano, you take the property of Othello, it is rightfully yours. Cassio, punish Iago. I’ll go and inform to New York about this tremendous tragedy.

They all exit.