Othello

Othello

1. Act 1 Scene 1

   • Rodrigo Is fighting with Iago in the street as he has just heard the news that Desdemona has eloped with the moor venetian general Othello. Roderigo has paid money to Iago for him to persuade Desdemona to marry him. Iago then talks about his uttermost hate for Othello, as he was denied the promotion even though he has been Othello's ensign for a long time.. He says that Michael Cassio is nothing but a "spinster" because he is only a military theorist and not had any actual experience.
     • Iago comes up with a cunning plan, to go to Brabantio's house to tell him that thieves have stolen his daughter, We see how cruel Iago can be "Rouse him. Make after him, Poison his delight,". Iago graphically describes Othello and Desdemona having sex in order to provoke Brabantio. " Making the beast with two backs" " Black Ram tupping a white Ewe" Animal imagery is used in order to provoke purity.
       • Brabantio conducts a search of his house as he also had a dream that his daughter would be taken away from him,.
         • Dream repersents the theme Appearance Vs. Reality
     • A spinster is an old woman who has no sexual experience, by saying this, Iago questions his manhood

2. Act 1 Scene 2

   • Iago tells othello that he wants to stab Rodrigo, for saying such terrible things about Othello, while Iago says Brabantio is likely to divorce the couple. Othello is unbothered by this, this shows how secure he is in himself, immune to the challenges to his manhood. We seamlessly see here how Machiavellian Iago is, as he switches his personality dutifully in order to achieve what he wants, corruption.
     • A group of men approach the pair, Iago states it must be Brabantio and his men coming for him. Othello is not phased by this, as he has served well in the Venetian military, While his conscience is also clean. Othello is the first man in the play to talk of love, while the mentions of women in the rest of the play are focused on them as being possessions
       • The men are servants of the Duke, and Michael Cassio, the news is to bring Othello to the Duke as Othello is being sent to Cyprus, this shows that any racial prejudice is outweighed by the need for him in the Venetian Military.
         • Cyprus is a proctectorate of Venice
         • Iago mentions to Cassio that Othello is eloped. This is cut short by Brabantio and Rodrigo coming to seize the moor for marrying Desdemona. Brabantio claims that Othello has enchanted Desdemona, or 'why else would she of gone to "the sooty bosom of such a thing thou"

3. Act 1 Scene 3

   • The Duke of Venice meets with his senators in order to discuss the Turkish Invasion.
     • Othello and Brabantio enter alongside the men, he demands that they stop discussing state business and deal with that fact Desdemona has been corrupted with spells and enchantments. The Duke agrees to prosecute whoever did this, but learns it is othello and gives him a fair trial. The duke is not swayed by racial prejudice and needs Othello in the Military.
       • Othello confesses of his honest way of winning Desdemona over, through Brabantio commonly inviting him to his house, and telling the pair of his stories and adventures. Othello feels that this won Desdemona over. The Duke agrees that his daughter would be won over by this also.
         • Othello asserts that storytelling has a seductive power, and Iago will do just so that to Othello
         • Desdemona tell's the court that she is in love with Othello, and she is obeident to Othello, as that this is okay because once her mother had to shift obiedence from her father to Brabantio. Women were supposed to belong to one man, and if he couldn't keep her under control he was seen as a ffailure
           • Othello trusts Iago to look after Desdemona as they travel to Cyprus.We see that Othello has faith in Desdemona
             • Alone Iago delivers his soliloquy in which he says he hates the moor and that there are rumours that he has slept with his wife. He is unsure of the authenticity of the claims but will go along with it anyways. He then declares that he will take Roderigo's money and that he will convince Othello that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. He will then have no choice but to promote Iago. Iago comments that Othello has a "free and open nature"