OTHELLO PLOT SUMMARY: Act 1
Act 1, Scene1: Street in Venice. Roderigo complains Iago (despite spending Roderigo’s money) didn’t tell him about the latest news (Othello’s marriage). Iago reassures Roderigo he hates ‘the Moor’ (General Othello) and wants revenge on him for promoting Cassio. Iago (Othello’s Ancient = flagbearer: position of honour within the army) persuades Roderigo he follows Othello to get what he can (‘to serve my turn against him’). Duty should be only to oneself. Iago and Roderigo wake up Brabantio (father of Desdemona, who has just married Othello) and tell him, in series of graphic and obscene metaphors using semantic field of sex and animals, that Desdemona has betrayed him by marrying Othello, ‘an extravagant and wheeling stranger’. Iago arranges with Roderigo to bring Brabantio to the inn where Othello and Desdemona are staying.
In this scene, look closely Iago’s lexis and imagery in describing Othello and his hatred of him. He refers to Othello in racist stereotyped lexis, creating a picture of a sex-obsessed, animalistic, unnatural alien. What motivates Iago?
Act 1, Scene 2: Street in Venice. Iago persuades Othello he defended him against Roderigo’s insults and is entirely loyal. Cassio arrives to take Othello to Duke because of emergency in Cyprus (in danger from attack by Turks). Brabantio arrives to accuse Othello of magic in seducing Desdemona.
In this scene, look closely at Brabantio’s lexis and imagery in referring to Othello. He accuses him of unnatural practices. For the 16/17th Century, the word ‘unnatural’ means what some call the ‘black arts’: thus connected with the Devil. What motivates Brabantio?
Act 1, Scene 3: Duke’s palace. The Senate is anxious because of imminent war in Cyprus and needs Othello to command the army and win the war – they have to leave tonight. Othello and others arrive; Brabantio accuses Othello who defends himself, in a long, elaborate and poetic speech. Desdemona arrives and agrees with Othello. Brabantio warns Othello that Desdemona will deceive him. Iago persuades Roderigo that Desdemona will soon be bored with Othello and will turn to him, if Roderigo continues to supply Iago with money. Iago’s first soliloquy ends the Act: he suspects Othello has committed adultery with Emilia (Iago’s wife) and describes his plot to get promotion by persuading Othello that Cassio is Desdemona’s lover.
In this scene, look at Othello’s lexis and imagery (the antithesis of Iago’s) and at Iago’s extended metaphor of ‘natural’ and ‘unnatural’ + his verse soliloquy. What’s important to Othello? What are his values?
Key speeches from Act I
• 1, 1 41-66: Iago explains his view of duty (verse – to impress Roderigo)
• 1, 2 87-92 (verse) + 109-118 (prose): Iago describes Othello to Brabantio
• 1, 2 121-141 (verse): Roderigo describes Othello to Brabantio
• 1, 3 62-81 (verse): Brabantio’s attacks Othello
• 1, 3 76-94 + 127-169 (verse): Othello’s account of wooing Desdemona
• 1, 3 245-256 (verse): Desdemona describes her love and duty towards Othello
• 1, 3 331-356 (prose): Iago persuades Roderigo that Desdemona will change
• 1, 3 377- end of scene (verse): Iago’s first soliloquy
Key extracts
• 1, 1 80-118: Iago’s hatred towards Othello
• 1, 2 62-end of scene: Brabantio’s prejudice towards Othello
• 1, 3 59-106: contrast of Brabantio’s view of Othello with the reality of Othello’s character
