Sir Andrew trembled like a jelly. He hurriedly sheathed his sword, muttered something about a mistake and turned tail, with Sir Toby hurrying after him.
Viola breathed a sigh of relief. “How can I thank you for your help?” she asked the sailor.
“Thank me?” The sailor looked surprised. “We look after each other, my friend.”
At that moment, an officer of the law marched up. “I’m arresting you for stealing from Duke Orsino’s ship,” he announced.
The sailor looked worriedly at Viola. “I can pay my way out of this if you give me back my purse,” he said.
“But I don’t have your purse,” replied Viola, wishing things would stop being so confusing.
“Don’t play games,” the sailor pleaded. He turned to the officer. “I saved this man from drowning,” he said. “Now he pretends that he doesn’t have the purse I lent him!”
But the officer just shrugged and tied the man’s hands. As he was led away, the sailor looked back and cried, “Shame on you, Sebastian!”
“Sebastian?” Viola’s heart leapt. She didn’t dare believe her ears. Had this man mistaken Viola for her twin brother? If so, then Sebastian must be alive. But where was he?
As it happened, Sebastian wasn’t far away. Not long after Viola had left Olivia’s house, he walked by and Olivia saw him from her window. Mistaking him for Cesario, she thought the page had decided to return to her and rushed out to greet him.
“Oh, I knew you’d come,” she cried and she flung her arms around him.
Sebastian was completely baffled but he wasn’t one to resist a beautiful woman. “Either I’m mad or this is a dream,” he thought with amusement. “But if so, let me sleep on!” Determined not to let her love escape again, Olivia led Sebastian into the house and he willingly followed.
Next day, the Duke himself came to see Olivia, with Viola at his side. Olivia stared at Viola with a puzzled look.
“Good lady, heaven walks on earth!” said the Duke with a bow.
“That’s a strange thing to say in front of my husband,” replied Olivia.
“Husband?” The Duke was taken aback.
“Yes, tell him, Cesario,” said Olivia. “We were married this morning. But why are you back at the Duke’s side? Orsino isn’t your master any more.”
“Yes he is,” said Viola. “He’s the master I love more than life itself. More than I shall ever love a wife.”
Everyone was feeling very confused, when suddenly Sebastian walked into the room with a radiant smile and Olivia’s wedding ring on his finger.
Viola and Sebastian stared at each other in amazement. “I never had a brother, Sir,” said Sebastian, “but surely we must be family?”
Viola laughed. To everyone’s astonishment, she pulled off her page’s cap and down tumbled her long red hair, as red as her dearest brother’s beard.
There was never a happier reunion and so much explaining to do. When everyone’s stories had been told several times, and all was finally understood, the Duke graciously gave the happy couple his blessing and the Countess gave her new sister, Viola, a dress to wear for the wedding celebrations.
That night, the house was filled with laughter and music. Sir Toby and Sir Andrew enjoyed the feast and Malvolio, still blushing from his embarrassment, kept the candles burning late.
Orsino gazed with admiration at his page, now transformed into a beautiful young woman. “Do you really love me more than life itself, Viola?” he asked. Viola didn’t need to say a word. Her sparkling eyes told him of the loving feelings she’d had to hide for so long.
Then Orsino smiled and offered her his hand. “If music be the food of love,” he said, “let the minstrels play on!”
“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy: It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on.”
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Othello
A general of the Venetian army
Desdemona
A noblewoman, wife of Othello
Iago
Othello’s most trusted attendant
Cassio
Othello’s lieutenant, friend of Desdemona
Roderigo
A young soldier, in love with Desdemona
OTHELLO
Othello was an exceptional man. As a Moor, it was unusual to have a powerful position in Venice, but his courage, honesty and good judgement had earned him promotion to a general and he was much respected by the Duke of Venice himself. His stories of travel and adventure on his campaigns had captured the heart of a nobleman’s daughter, called Desdemona. She loved Othello for the dangers he’d overcome and he grew to love her gentle, caring nature. However, Desdemona knew that her father wouldn’t approve of her marrying someone of a different race, so she and Othello were married in secret.
When Desdemona’s father heard about the marriage he was furious. He disowned his daughter completely. “Watch her closely,” he warned Othello. “If she can deceive her father, one day she may deceive you too!”
Othello dismissed his words with scorn. “Desdemona’s heart is pure,” he insisted. “I would trust my life to her honesty.”
Soon after the wedding, Othello set sail from Venice to become the Governor of the island of Cyprus and Desdemona went with him.
Among the men who accompanied them were Othello’s trusted attendant, Iago, and a young soldier called Roderigo, who had long been secretly in love with Desdemona. Roderigo was feeling full of despair at Desdemona’s marriage.
“To live now is torment,” he moaned to Iago as they sailed towards Cyprus. “I might as well drown myself!”
“Don’t give up,” said Iago. “Desdemona will soon lose interest in Othello’s exotic looks. Before long she’ll want a fine Venetian man like yourself. Trust me, when she does I’ll help you win her.”
“Why would you help me?” asked Roderigo.
Iago scowled. “I hate Othello,” he said. “We shouldn’t have to take orders from a Moor and he promoted Cassio to be his lieutenant instead of me. If I help you steal Othello’s wife I shall have my revenge.”
Later, alone in his cabin Iago plotted secretly against Othello. “Maybe there’s a way to punish him and get rid of Cassio too,” he thought to himself. “Cassio and Desdemona are friends. If I trick Othello into believing that they love each other, then suspicion and jealousy will do my work.” Iago smiled wickedly. “Othello foolishly believes that all men are as honest as they seem. He’ll be led to his fate as easily as an ass!”
When the Venetian ships arrived in Cyprus, Iago began at once to put his plan into action. That evening, he persuaded Cassio, who was in charge of the watchmen, to share a drink with him. Cassio protested that he wasn’t a drinking man, but Iago lied that the wine was very weak. Before long, all the watchmen were singing and Cassio was stumbling drunkenly on his feet. Iago cleverly stirred up trouble between them. In the heat of the moment swords were drawn and rowdy shouts echoed through the garrison.
Othello appeared, angry at the disturbance. When he discovered that Cassio was drunk in charge of the watch he was deeply disappointed.
“Cassio, I love you as my friend,” he said sternly, “but you can no longer be my officer.”
Cassio was devastated. As soon as Othello left, cunning Iago comforted him.
“Don’t worry, Cassio, this isn’t a serious offence,” said Iago. “Visit Desdemona tomorrow and ask her to plead with Othello to change his mind. He is so in love with her, he’ll do anything she asks.”
Cassio was grateful for Iago’s support. “You advise me well, honest friend,” he said. “I’ll ask for Desdemona’s help in the morning.”
That night, Iago laughed at how easily Cassio was fooled. “Tomorrow I’ll pour poisonous words into Othello’s ears to make him believe that Cassio and his wife love each other. Desdemona will have no idea that when she pleads for mercy on Cassio’s behalf she’ll be making a net to trap them all!”
Next morning, Iago made sure that Othello
was out of the way so that Cassio could speak to Desdemona. When she heard about Cassio’s punishment she took pity on him at once and promised to help him. “I know that you love Othello,” she said. “Don’t worry, he’ll have no peace from me until you are forgiven.”
At that moment, Othello and Iago returned. “Here comes my husband,” said Desdemona. “Stay and hear me talk to him.” But Cassio hadn’t slept all night and didn’t want Othello to see him in such a bad way. He thanked Desdemona and hurried away.
“Was that Cassio with my wife?” Othello asked Iago.
“Surely not,” said Iago slyly. “Why would Cassio sneak away with such a guilty look when he saw you coming?”
Desdemona wasted no time in talking to Othello about Cassio. “He’s truly sorry,” she said. “If I have any grace or power to move you, show him your forgiveness, my lord.”
“Anything for you,” said Othello, wishing only to please her. “Cassio may speak to me later.” Satisfied with this, Desdemona left him.
“Fair lady,” sighed Othello, gazing after her. “How I love her. If ever my love ends the world will fall into chaos.”
“I didn’t realise that Cassio was your wife’s friend,” said Iago casually.
“Yes,” replied Othello. “He often visited her on my behalf before we were married.”
“Indeed!” Iago exclaimed. “You trusted them alone together?”
Othello wondered why Iago was surprised at this. “Don’t you think he’s trustworthy?”
Iago looked thoughtful for a moment. “Men should be what they seem,” he answered, “and Cassio seems honest.”
“Seems honest?” Othello sensed that Iago was hiding something. “Tell me what you mean.”
“It’s my duty to serve you, my lord,” replied Iago, “but you cannot command me to speak my thoughts.”
As Iago intended, Othello began to suspect that he knew something about Cassio and Desdemona that he wasn’t saying. But Othello wouldn’t be led to doubt his wife so easily.
“I may have faults but Desdemona chose me with her eyes open, and she loves me. I won’t doubt her without evidence.”
“I only speak out of love for you, my lord,” said Iago with a bow. “Just remember, she deceived her father when she married you.”
All that day, Othello wrestled with the suspicion Iago had planted in his mind. “I would rather be a toad living in a dungeon than share the one I love with another man,” he thought wretchedly. “Is it possible that Desdemona regrets marrying an older man, or longs for more refined, courtly manners than those of a soldier like me?”
At supper time, when Desdemona came to tell Othello that their dinner guests had arrived, she noticed his pained expression. “Are you ill, my love?” she asked.
Othello muttered that he had a headache. Desdemona fetched a handkerchief to cool his brow but he pushed it away. “That’s too small to do any good,” he said. “Let’s not keep our guests waiting.”
While they were at dinner, Iago’s wife Emilia, who was Desdemona’s maid, found the little handkerchief on the floor. “This is the first gift Othello gave to my mistress,” she remembered with a smile. “Desdemona promised to keep it forever.”
At that moment, Iago came into the room and saw the handkerchief in Emilia’s hand. Quick as a flash, he snatched it from her.
“I want this to play a trick on someone,” he told his wife. The handkerchief was just the evidence he needed to destroy Cassio and get his revenge on Othello.
All through dinner, Othello was tormented by thoughts of Desdemona and Cassio together. Next day, he told Iago that he wanted proof. “If you’ve lied, I’ll punish you so harshly that you’ll wish you’d been born a dog!” he warned.
Iago was ready with more poisonous words for Othello’s ears. He told him that he’d heard Cassio talk about Desdemona in his sleep and seen him wipe his beard with her favourite handkerchief. Iago didn’t mention that he’d put the handkerchief in Cassio’s room himself.
Othello was outraged. “Betrayed with my own love token!” he cried. “And now Desdemona dares to plead on Cassio’s behalf for my forgiveness!” Anger burned in his heart.
Iago turned away with secret satisfaction.
The following day, Othello watched Desdemona closely. He asked to borrow the handkerchief that he’d given her but, as he expected, she didn’t have it.
“Is it lost?” he asked.
“No, my lord,” said Desdemona.
“Then where is it?” said Othello.
“It’s not lost, but what if it were?” answered Desdemona.
“If it’s not lost, bring it here,” Othello demanded angrily. “Let me see it.”
Desdemona was alarmed by Othello’s fierce mood. “I came to ask you again about Cassio – is this a trick to distract me?” she said. “Please, my lord, send for him and take him back into your service.”
The mention of Cassio made Othello furious and he stormed out of the room.
Next morning, Iago offered Othello further proof of Desdemona’s betrayal. He arranged to meet Cassio in the town square and suggested that Othello watch them from the window of the tavern. “I’ll ask Cassio about his meetings with Desdemona,” said Iago. “Watch his reaction. Although you won’t hear his words, you’ll see his guilt for yourself.”
However, when Cassio arrived, instead of asking him about Desdemona, Iago asked about a girl from the tavern called Bianca. Othello watched Cassio smile.
“Bianca’s easily pleased,” said Cassio. “When I gave her a handkerchief I found she smothered me with kisses!”
“Then you should marry her,” suggested Iago.
“Marry her?” Cassio laughed. “She’s fine company for an evening but I don’t love her!”
At that moment, Bianca appeared from the tavern door, having heard Cassio’s words. She flung Desdemona’s handkerchief at him.
“My handkerchief!” cried Othello, watching from the window.
“You can keep your present,” Bianca sobbed and she ran away. Cassio followed after her.
Iago beckoned to Othello. “Did you witness how Cassio laughed and smiled when I asked about Desdemona?” he said artfully. “And did you see the handkerchief?”
“My heart is turned to stone,” uttered Othello. “Death is the only punishment for Cassio. You shall be my lieutenant now, Iago. Fetch me some poison, Desdemona has brought dishonour upon us both and must die for it too.”
“Better to strangle her in bed,” whispered Iago. “That is the place she shared with Cassio.”
That evening, Roderigo came to Iago’s room to complain that he’d had no help in his quest to win Desdemona. Iago saw a chance for Roderigo to do his dirty work.
“Desdemona is already bored with Othello,” Iago told him. “Cassio is your rival now. Help me kill him tonight and then the path will be clear for you.” Reluctantly, Roderigo agreed.
Together, they ambushed Cassio in a dark alleyway, but Roderigo’s blow only delivered a wound. Disturbed by passers by, Iago protected himself by plunging his knife into Roderigo’s back and fled, unseen.
Meanwhile, Othello came to Desdemona’s bedchamber and found her sleeping peacefully. He gazed at her beautiful face, seeming so innocent in the lantern light. Hot tears rolled down his cheeks.
“Put out the light and then put out the light,” he murmured, trembling at the deed before him. “If I quench the lantern flame I can restore it but if I put out the light of your life, fair Desdemona, it cannot be rekindled.”
He kissed her and she woke.
“Have you said your prayers?” whispered Othello.
“Yes, my lord,” replied Desdemona.
“Then you are ready to die for your sins.”
Desdemona gasped. “Why do you talk of killing?”
“I know you have been unfaithful with Cassio,” said Othello. “I saw the proof of the handkerchief you gave him.”
“It’s not true!” Desdemona cried. “Bring Cassio here and he’ll
tell you so.”
“Iago has already seen to his punishment,” said Othello.
Desdemona cried out in terror. She saw that the truth couldn’t help her. “Banish me, my lord, if I can’t prove my innocence, don’t kill me,” she pleaded.
But Othello was possessed. His justice was beyond mercy. He seized a pillow and smothered Desdemona until she lay lifeless.
Emilia heard the noise and hurried into the room.
Othello threw the pillow to the floor. “My wife was unfaithful with Cassio,” he told her. “It was only your honest husband who told me the truth.”
Emilia stared in disbelief. “You are wrong, my lord,” she gasped. “My mistress was always faithful.” She ran to the door and shouted “Murder!”
Iago and the guards came running.
Emilia confronted her husband. “Tell Othello that you lied about my mistress,” she demanded.
Iago gripped the hilt of his sword. “I only said what I thought,” he replied.
“And I saw the proof,” said Othello. “Cassio had Desdemona’s handkerchief, my first token of love.”
Emilia stared with horror at her husband. “But Iago took that handkerchief from me,” she cried. “He said he wanted to play a trick on someone. He must have given it to Cassio himself!”
The truth struck Othello like a thunderbolt. He’d been tricked into murdering his innocent wife. “Villain!” he roared. But before Othello could reach for his weapon, Iago thrust his sword into Emilia’s heart and ran from the room, chased by the guards.
Othello sank to his knees with grief at what he’d done. “Oh, Desdemona, my life, my love!” he cried. “How could I believe a devil and doubt your pure heart? I loved not wisely, but too well. Nothing I did was for hate, only for honour.” With one last look at her angelic face Othello stabbed himself and fell into her arms, their lips meeting in a final kiss.
A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories Page 5