Act 5 of Othello runs 567 lines across 2 scenes with 11 speaking characters — about 15.9% of the full play.
Opens (Scene 1) — Iago: “Here, stand behind this bulk; straight will he come:”
Closes (Scene 2) — Lodovico: “This heavy act with heavy heart relate.”
The 2 scenes of Act 5
Who speaks in Act 5
Leading voice: Othello with 37% of Act 5’s dialogue (211 lines).
| Character | Lines in act | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Othello ♂ | 211 | 37.2% |
| Emilia ♀ | 91 | 16.0% |
| Iago ♂ | 86 | 15.2% |
| Lodovico ♂ | 49 | 8.6% |
| Desdemona ♀ | 42 | 7.4% |
| Gratiano ♂ | 32 | 5.6% |
| Cassio ♂ | 30 | 5.3% |
Who carries the voice in Act 5
Act 5 reflects the play’s overall balance — 25% female dialogue (play average: 19%).
Act 5
Male 427 · Female 140
How Act 5 of Othello compares to other tragedies
| Play | Act 5 lines | Scenes |
|---|---|---|
| Hamlet | 731 | 2 |
| Coriolanus | 686 | 6 |
| Titus Andronicus | 578 | 3 |
| Othello (this act) | 567 | 2 |
| Antony and Cleopatra | 520 | 2 |
| King Lear | 477 | 3 |
| Romeo and Juliet | 441 | 3 |
| Macbeth | 398 | 8 |
| Timon of Athens | 381 | 4 |
| Julius Caesar | 379 | 5 |
About Act 5 of Othello
How many lines are in Act 5 of Othello?
567 lines spread across 2 scenes.
Who dominates Act 5?
Othello delivers 37% of the act’s dialogue (211 lines).