After Iago tells Othello that Cassio has Desdemona’s handkerchief, the two swear a demonic vow of revenge. Othello tells Desdemona a lie, that the handkerchief is black magic. Emilia says that people are not jealous for a cause. A third woman in the play, Bianca the prostitute.

Within a single scene in the center of the play, Iago turns Othello from loving husband to jealous maniac. The question of faith, in love and religion. Othello demands “ocular proof.” What Iago gives him is “ocular”—images of infidelity planted in his imagination.

The opening of Act 2 seems like the happy ending of a comedy, the enemy destroyed and Othello and Desdemona reunited. Iago’s soliloquy: Coleridge’s famous description of Iago’s “motiveless malignity.” Cassio, made drunk by Iago, disgraces himself at the celebration and is demoted.

At the end of Act 1, Iago counsels Roderigo, “Put money in thy purse.” What motivates Iago? His puzzling soliloquy. Act 2, the Turkish fleet has been scuttled by a storm, and the characters land one at a time on Cyprus. While waiting Iago engages Desdemona in a game of wit and she defends herself spiritedly. This is no passive, victimized Ophelia.

Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, accuses Othello, who recounts how Desdemona fell in love with him listening to his stories of his life. The danger in love of believing stories, of having “faith”—but also the danger of disbelieving. Othello sent to Cyprus to defend against the Turks.

The significance of the full title: the definition of “Moor,” the associations of Venice. Othello as a “domestic” tragedy: an inadequate designation. The play opens in darkness. Desdemona’s father Brabantio is awakened when Roderigo and Iago shout vicious racist and sexist accusations out of the dark.

The murder of MacDuff’s family. MacDuff persuades Malcolm to return from England with English forces. Lady Macbeth sleepwalks, washing her hands. Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane. Macbeth goes down fighting. Can Macbeth be called heroic, or is he merely a “dead butcher”? We admire ambitious men who trample all obstacles in their path, including other people, don’t we? A play for our time.

Macbeth sees Banquo’s Ghost sitting in his chair at the banquet. This drives him back to the witches, who show him three Apparitions that give him three riddling oracles that, once again, he interprets according to what he wants to hear.

Immediately after the horrific murder of Duncan, the startlingly incongruous monologue of the porter too drunk to open the gate. The psychological closeness of terror and laughter. Macbeth hires three murderers, who kill Banquo, but Fleance escapes.

Lady Macbeth goads her husband, telling him to be a man. The theme of being an “instrument.” Duncan and company are put up for the night in Macbeth’s Dunsinane. Murder in the middle of the night.