How many lines does Desdemona have in Othello?

The size of the part, every scene it speaks in, its longest speeches, and how long it takes to learn.

The Offbook team

Oct 8, 2026

Desdemona has about 386 lines in Othello: 2,752 words in 165 speeches, 10.7% of the play, and the third-largest part. The role speaks in 9 of the 15 scenes, and its longest wait is 2 scenes in a row without a line.

Desdemona first speaks in the Senate scene, Act 1, Scene 3, but over four fifths of her part comes from Act 3, Scene 3 on. The late scenes are the hardest: her plea to Iago in Act 4, Scene 2, which is her longest speech, the Willow Song scene with Emilia in Act 4, Scene 3, and her death in the final scene.

Lines: 386
Words: 2,752
Share of play: 10.7%
Speech time: 20 min

71% of the words are verse. 165 speeches means about 165 cues to learn.

Scene by scene

Scene	Words	Minutes
Act 1, Scene 3	217	1.6
Act 2, Scene 1	204	1.5
Act 2, Scene 3	3	0.0
Act 3, Scene 3	536	3.8
Act 3, Scene 4	566	4.0
Act 4, Scene 1	75	0.5
Act 4, Scene 2	456	3.3
Act 4, Scene 3	422	3.0
Act 5, Scene 2	273	1.9

The longest speeches

Speech	Scene	Words
“O good Iago,”	Act 4, Scene 2	139
“Why, then, to-morrow night; or Tuesday morn;”	Act 3, Scene 3	128
“I prithee, do so.”	Act 3, Scene 4	113
“That I did love the Moor to live with him,”	Act 1, Scene 3	100
“The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree, Sing…”	Act 4, Scene 3	91
“Alas, thrice-gentle Cassio!”	Act 3, Scene 4	80
“Do not doubt that; before Emilia here”	Act 3, Scene 3	78
“My noble father,”	Act 1, Scene 3	75

How many lines a day to learn

New lines a day to be off book in time, learning five days a week. Review what you already know on the other days.

Time until off book	New lines a day
2 weeks	39
3 weeks	26
4 weeks	20
6 weeks	13

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