Othello by William Shakespeare | Act 4, Scene 2

Professor Bradley Greenburg of Northeastern Illinois University provides an in-depth summary and analysis of Act 4, Scene 2 of William Shakespeare's play Othello.

Othello, written in 1603-4, centers on a mysterious conflict between the Moorish protagonist by the same name as the play and his malevolent ensign Iago. Othello of Venice, Italy is a passionate soldier and lover who woos the noble and good-hearted Desdemona.

Sadly, Othello remains oblivious to the plots of mastermind Iago, who is puppeteering schemes involving all the plays other characters. "Honest Iago" manipulates his friends and confidants at every turn, staying one step ahead of them and turning them against one another. By the end of the play, Iago has trapped and killed almost all the characters in his web of lies.

Did you know? The character Othello wasn't played by a black actor for more than two centuries after the play was written.

And consider these common phrases first invented by Shakespeare in Othello: "forgone conclusion," "jealousy is the green-eyed monster," and "wear my heart upon my sleeve."

About Course Hero:

Master Your Classes™ with Course Hero!

Get the latest updates:

[milesblaauw]

watching all of these with my english a level "assessment" (exam) tomorrow

[cptnbeefart]

these fuckin videos are saving my ass right now. I'm pretty sure I'm dyslexic and reading is so hard for me, so I watch these right before I listen to the play and follow along in my book. Without these videos, I would be so lost in the Shakespearean language! :-)

[elijahsierra]

Thank you, you are the reason I’m getting a diploma

[thatonekid]

Literally watching this right before my final exam for my next period

[diboi]

do you know how many of these problems wouldn’t have happened if Iago just upped and killed Othello secretly


(Anyway on a serious note this is a good summary video, thank you :) )

[ZenDoggie]

My English students would like him to stop with the hands. I tend to agree. He looks like an animatronic at Disneyland.

These videos are amazing, though. Super helpful.

[treheard]

Dang Iago, you just keep scheming. Also thank you for this again!!

[justlui]

In the story othello, lust and jealousy create the same outcome
There you a theme

[fernandatirado]

who does Iago think he is. like I wont go around making up lies about someone because i didn't get a role like not even Donald Trump stooped that low