Othello kills his wife Desdemona as a result of a delicate plot designed by Iago. When he becomes overwhelmed with jealousy, he plans to kill her while she is asleep. However, she wakes up and tries to explain her innocence. Othello, unable to control his anger, smothers Desdemona with a pillow.
Detailed answer:
Desdemona’s death is probably the most tragic part of Othello for the cruelty of her murder and for the ill-fated reasons why Othello kills her. Being completely innocent, she becomes a victim of an intricate plot designed by Iago. He persuades her husband that Desdemona has an affair with Cassio. Then, he drops her handkerchief in Cassio’s home for Othello to find it. That becomes the last straw, and Othello concedes to the idea that his wife deserves death. “I will kill thee, And love thee after” he proclaims. Then, he starts implementing his dreadful plan.
In Act V, Othello enters his wife’s bedroom with an intent to murder her while she is still asleep. As a farewell, he gently kisses her, but she feels it and wakes up. Then, he asks her to prepare to die, pray, and confess her sins. Desdemona does not understand why Othello is so angry and starts begging for her life. However, all her words are useless, as he is already convinced of her adultery. Finally, unwilling to hear pleas and arguments, Othello takes a pillow and smothers her.
Upon the tragic event, Othello justifies killing Desdemona. He believes that her death will save many other men from betrayal. The sad truth is that until her last breath, she always loved her husband. Even dying, she does not want to blame him and insists that nobody was guilty. Finally, Emilia reveals to Othello the actual plot designed by Iago. Then, he asks people to remember him as the man of overwhelming but irrational love. He finally admits that killing Desdemona was a terrible and ill-founded act.