Anahit Rubinyan
The Drunken Lieutenant Cyprus, Dec
.
21, 1539­ At the night of the arrival to Cyprus, from the victory of the Turkish defeat, a shocking event occurred
.
General Othello’s lieutenant Cassio causes a scene and attacks a fellow civilian
.
He was highly intoxicated while he also attacked Montano, a high­ranking government official
.
Michael Cassio was heard saying that he has
“
very poor and unhappy brains for drinking
...
I am unfortunate in the infirmity, and dare not task my weakness with any more
”
(II,iii,26)
.
Cassio claims that he doesn’t remember why there was a riot as he says ,
“
I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly. A quarrel, but nothing wherefore ”
(II,iii,232­233)
.
Iago, the eyewitness, insists that he has seen everything that has taken place, “
I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth Than it should do offence to
Michael Cassio. Yet I persuade myself to speak the truth Shall nothing wrong him ”
(II,iii,184­187)
.
Iago who is one of the soldiers, says that the quarrel had started when him and Montano heard someone cry for help
.
Cassio was chasing a fellow civilian with his sword trying to kill him
.
While Montano restrains Cassio, Iago runs after the civilian but doesn’t catch up to him
.
When he comes back he sees that Montano and Cassio had their swords out and
Cassio was swearing
.
Iago then explains how Montano was seriously injured and the riot had been stopped by Othello and his guards
.
Othello shouts, “
Are we turned Turks? And to ourselves

do that which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites? For Christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl ..
.Honest Iago, that looks dead with grieving, speak, who began this?
””
(II,iii,133­141)
.
Othello insists Iago to speak the truth since Montano was badly injured
.
Although Cassio regretted his actions of drinking and causing a scene, this riot led to him getting fired and Iago getting the job of lieutenant
.

Suicide of Despair
Cyprus, Dec
.
28, 1539 ­ In the bedroom of Desdemona, high­ranking generals witnessed a riot, which led to a bloodbath
.
Othello killed his beloved wife Desdemona by believing Iago’s false accusations . Othello committed suicide after finding out he was mistaken, says eyewitness
Lodovico, “O thou Othello, thou was once so good,Fall'n in the practice of a cursèd slave, What shall be said to thee?”(v,ii,304­306). Iago, who is Othello’s ancient , is also responsible for the deaths of Roderigo and Emilia
.
Iago had planned out revenge because of his jealousy
.
Gratiano and Lodovico, who are government officials, witnessed this dreadful scene
.
Cyprus and Venice are in grief today for the loss of these eminent individuals
.
Witnesses say that before Emilia’s death, she revealed that her husband, Iago, had planned an elaborate scheme to deceive Othello
.
Gratiano says, Emilia mentioned that Iago insisted that she bring Desdemona’s handkerchief . She was made an unintentional accomplice to
Iago’s plan, and this handkerchief was the reason Othello murdered Desdemona, “O thou dull
Moor! That handkerchief thou speak’st of I found by fortune and did give my husband
.
For often, with a solemn earnestness More than indeed belonged to such a trifle He begged of me to steal it
”
(v,ii, 238­243)
.
The strawberry embroidered handkerchief, was set up in Cassio’s bedroom to implicate him and make Othello believe Desdemona was having an affair with

Cassio
.
The handkerchief was said to be a representation of the young couples love, which is why this affected Othello severely
.
Iago killed his wife Emilia, for revealing his secrets in the presence of Lodovico and Gratiano. Othello’s body was found lying beside Emilia and
Desdemona
, due to an apparent suicide caused by the knowledge of his wife’s innocence
.