Shakespeare in Plain English

Othello · Tragedy · c. 1603

Othello in Plain English

A soldier tells his commander a lie, and keeps telling it until a marriage is destroyed. Every scene has the original text and a clear modern translation, side by side, line by line.

Act 1 3 scenes

Scene 1 Venice. A street at night. Iago states his principle — 'I am not what I am' — then wakes Desdemona's father with deliberately vile language. Scene 2 Outside the Sagittary. Brabantio arrives with an armed mob. Othello stops the fight with a single line. Scene 3 The council chamber. Othello defends himself before the Senate, Desdemona speaks for herself, and Iago invents his plan.

Act 2 3 scenes

Scene 1 Cyprus. A seaport. A storm ends the war before it starts. Iago watches Cassio's good manners and decides to hang him with them. Scene 2 Cyprus. A street. A herald declares a public celebration. Twelve lines whose only job is to get everyone drunk. Scene 3 Cyprus. A hall in the citadel. Iago gets Cassio drunk, a brawl costs Cassio his rank, and the advice that follows is both kind and fatal.