Act 5
Iago's short soliloquy again shows his gift for improvisation. His problem is how best to rid the world of both Rodrigo and Cassio. As Iago comments at the end of the scene, "This is the night/ That either makes me a fordoes me quite" (act 5)
Iago has Roderigo poised and ready to pounce on Cassio, and kill him; if either of them is killed, it is to Iago's benefit, although he would like to have both of them disposed of, so that his devices might not be discovered. Roderigo and Cassio fight, and both are injured; Othello hears the scuffle, is pleased, and then leaves to finish off Desdemona. Iago enters, pretending that he knows nothing of the scuffle; Gratiano and Ludovico also stumble upon the scene, having no idea what has happened. Roderigo is still alive, so Iago feigns a quarrel, and finishes him off.
