Act 1, Scene 1 - Key Events Flashcards
How/Where/When does the scene begin?
Roderigo and Iago argue on a Venice street at night
Who do Roderigo and Iago have a mutual hatred of?
Othello
What does Iago rouse Brabantio about? What does he provoke in Brabantio?
Brabantio has been “robbed” of Desdemona
Fear
Who do Iago, Roderigo and Brabantio search for?
Desdemona and Othello
What 2 things does this scene introduce about Roderigo and Iago? What will the latter provoke later on?
Their deceitful partnership/Motives
Tension
Who is Iago jealous of? What is he jealous of?
Cassio
Cassio got promoted to Othello’s lieutenant
How does Iago describe Cassio?
A soldier with “mere prattle without practice”
What does Iago accuse Cassio of?
Being promoted by “letter and affection” over “old gradation”
Why does Iago believe Othello promoted Cassio?
Nepotism over talent
What does Iago state with his motives? What quality does Iago reveal about himself?
“I follow him to serve my turn upon him”
Selfishness: “in following him, I follow but myself”
How is Iago’s nature shown? What does this reveal about Roderigo?
“I am not what I am”
He is gullible and trusts him
How does Roderigo use racism to describe Othello?
“Thick lips”
What do Iago and Roderigo both use to mock Othello?
Pejorative slurs
What imagery does Iago use to describe Othello? What is an example of this?
Bestial imagery
“An old black ram is tupping your white ewe”
What does “ram” suggest? What does the colour imagery symbolise?
Othello is barbaric
White is purity, black is evil
How else does Iago refer to Othello? What animal? Where does a barbary horse come from?
“Devil’’/”Barbary horse”
North Africa
From Iago’s outset, what is the first impression the audience get of Othello?
A bestial man
What is revealed about Desdemona? How is the action seen?
She has eloped with Othello
Disrespectful
What does Brabantio remind Roderigo of after being awoken? What does this remind the audience
“My daughter is not for thee”
Women had little say on who they married
What does Brabantio exclaim to Roderigo? What do some critics argue about Brabantio’s reaction?
“O, that you had her!”
His preference is based on racism over logic
What does Brabantio refuse to believe about Desdemona? What does he worry Othello has done?
She committed “treason”
He has used his “charms”
What did people assume about “others” from pagan lands? What does Brabantio do with this theory?
They used witchcraft
Assumes Othello has used witchcraft
