Act 1, Scene 1 Flashcards
Where does the play open?
On the streets of Venice at night - there seems to be tension in the air
Why has Roderigo paid Iago?
To help him win Desdemona’s love
Why is Roderigo angry?
Because Desdemona has married Othello
Why does Iago tell Roderigo that he’s angry at Othello?
He hates Othello for promoting Cassio to lieutenant ahead of him
Who do Roderigo and Iago wake up to tell?
Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, and tell him about her secret marriage to Othello
Why is Brabantio furious and where does he go?
When he discovers that she’s run away.
He goes with Roderigo to confront Othello
What tone does the scene set?
Confusion and conflict for the rest of the play
Why does scene 1 begin mid-conversation?
To set a tone of confusion and conflict for the rest of the play
The audience has no idea what Iago and Roderigo are talking about.
They discuss Othello in crude and critical terms but they never use his name, which increases the audience’s confusion
Why does the action take place at night?
The sense of uncertainty is emphasised
Iago tells Roderigo to “Rouse” Brabantio from his sleep.
The darkness links to a metaphorical difficulty in seeing - this becomes a theme in the play as the characters struggle to separate appearances from reality
Why is there a tense atmosphere?
In the opening lines, Iago and Roderigo appear argumentative, then Brabantio becomes angry.
This tense atmosphere anticipates the disputes later in the play. It also shows from the very beginning that Iago is skilled in creating disorder and taking advantage of situations
What is an antagonist?
a character who provides opposition (Iago) to the protagonist (Othello)
How does Shakespeare portray Iago, even before Othello appears on stage?
Deceptive and manipulative.
Revealed as the tragic villain and the play’s antagonist
How does Iago openly admit that he’s deceptive and selfish?
He says “in following him, I follow but myself”
What is the language Iago uses full of?
Imagery of disease and poison - phrases like “poison his delight” and “plague him with flies” suggest he has a darker purpose
Why does Iago tell Roderigo “I am not what I am”
There’s an inconsistency between how he appears and what he’s really like.
This introduces Iago’s mysterious nature and his unwillingness to share his true thoughts
Why does Iago help Roderigo to wake up Brabantio, then leave to maintain the appearance of loyalty to Othello?
“I must show out a flag and sign of love”
This suggests that Iago manipulates people from behind the scenes - he’s willing to use other people to maintain his reputation of being honest
How does Iago use language to manipulate Brabantio?
He identifies Brabantio’s fears and preys on them. By repeating “thieves” four times he encourages Brabantio to feel that Othello has stolen his daughter, and he uses bestial, sexual language to exaggerate the sinfulness of the marriage
How is the key theme of jealousy introduced in the scene?
Iago is jealous of Cassio’s new position as Othello’s lieutenant. He questions Cassio’s abilities as a soldier, and challenges his masculinity, by saying that he’s got no more knowledge of war than “a spinster”. The alliteration of “prattle without practice” emphasises his contempt
How is the key theme of sexuality introduced in scene 1?
This scene is full of sexual language, eg Iago says Othello and Desdemona are “making the beast with two backs”.
Iago’s references to sex involve animal imagery - he makes their union seem crude and unnatural
How is the key theme of honesty and deception introduced in the scene?
Iago says that he’s deceiving Othello, but Othello and Desdemona have also deceived Brabantio by eloping. Even the characters who seem honest are capable of dishonesty
How is the key theme of racism introduced in the scene 1?
The characters use racist language to describe Othello. Roderigo calls him “the thick-lips”, and animalistic imagery presents Othello as different and uncivilised. He’s called a “devil” and a “lascivious Moor”, which shows how Othello is defined by his race, unlike the other, white, characters.
