In the first act, Desdemona and Othello elope. Her father doesn’t completely accept their marriage, and warns Othello that one day, Desdemona will betray him. The key component to this story is the handkerchief that Othello gave to Desdemona, his first gift to her. Roderigo, a high-ranking officer, is jealous of Othello because he once asked her father for her in marriage. Othello’s ensign, Iago, is jealous of Michael Cassio, whom Othello promoted above him. Iago gets Michael Cassio drunk and convinces him to get into a fight with Roderigo. Michael Cassio loses the fight and Othello’s favor. Othello demotes him and sends him home. Iago convinces Michael Cassio to ask Desdemona to help get him back on Othello’s good side.

Iago gets it into Othello’s head that something weird is going on between Desdemona and Michael Cassio. But, Michael Cassio is actually courting a woman named Bianca. One day, Desdemona drops The Handkerchief and Iago gets his innocent wife, Emilia, to steal it. He sneaks into Michael Cassio’s room and plants it there. Then he tells Othello to secretly watch as he confronts Michael Cassio about the handkerchief. Iago crafts the conversation in a way that Michael Cassio is talking about Bianca, without revealing her name, but Othello believes he’s referring to Desdemona.

Later, Bianca finds the handkerchief in Michael Cassio’s room and accuses him of giving her a second-hand gift.

Othello decides to kill Desdemona. He doesn’t reveal what he knows (or doesn’t know) and yells at his wife, and hits her in public.

Meanwhile, Iago convinces Roderigo to kill Michael Cassio. The two fight in the street but only manage to wound each other. Passers-by intervene and Iago blends in, pretending to help Michael Cassio, and stabs and kills Roderigo to make sure he doesn’t betray him.

Othello confronts Desdemona and chokes her. Emilia walks in, finds them, and calls for help. Desdemona, barely alive, tries defends her husband but then dies. Othello attempts to explain his actions by mentioning The Handkerchief. People answer Emilia’s call, Iago among them, and Emilia realizes Iago’s plan. She calls him out. And he kills her. Othello finally understands that his wife was innocent and attacks Iago, but doesn’t kill him. Iago and Othello are apprehended but Othello kills himself before he can be taken away.