Act 1 Summary

Question 1

Act 1Scene 1

Answer 1

• Establishes initial conflict
• Strong forward momentum with interracial relationship
• Cosmopolitan city is presented so it makes interracial relationship believable for the time Shakespeare was writing, Venice…
• Iago is a resourceful villain who frames himself as a confidant

Question 2

Scene 2

Answer 2

• Turkish aggression in the Mediterranean
• Iago cements manipulation as loyal to Othello
• Letter from the Duke establishes Othello’s authority over Brabantio

Question 3

Scene 3

Answer 3

• Othello is confident and charismatic: His stories bolster a sense of accomplishment and encouragement
  -Othello and Desdemona’s relationship is based on adventure, Des feeds and Othello tells
• Desdemona is brave but caught in a fantasy
• Iago presents himself as licentious and lascivious ( promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters ).

Question 4

Exposition of Act 1 Scene 1

Answer 4

• Shakespeare intentionally lowers Othello’s status
• firmly establishes that Venice is a place where people like Othello would be viewed as very different
• Shows Racial prejudice, What people taught of Muslim heritage
• Also establishes Iago as the antagonist

Question 5

Exposition of Act 1 Scene 3

Answer 5

• Desdemona is Brabantio’s property in terms of marriage, who has been stolen by Othello attract a high-class elite man, for status and wealth
• Shakespeare present Otello’s contrasts with Act 1 Scene 1, because Othello is the most respectful person on stage
• Nullifies wrong aspects such as Otherness of Othello
• Brabantio represents patriarchal control of women and the Duke dismisses Brabantio’s request to punish Othello, which damages control
• Shows how much Othello loves Othello and how much Othello loves Desdemona
• Othello’s nobility and Othello’s love
• Desdemona asking to go to war and Othello agreeing to take her shows elements of naivety