Othello Act 1, Scene 3

1. Othello Act 1, Scene 3

2. Identify: The Duke • The official authority in Venice, the duke has a lot of respect for Othello as a public and military representative. His primary role was the this act because he convinced Brabantio to give up Desdemona and send them to Cyprus

3. Identify: Brabantio • Desdemona’s overprotective father who is also a Venetian senator. As a friend of Othello, Brabantio feels very betrayed when the general marries his daughter in such secrecy

4. Identify: Othello • The play’s protagonist and hero. A Christian Moor and general of the armies of Venice, Othello is an eloquent and physically powerful figure, respected by all those around him. In spite of his elevated status, he is nevertheless easy prey to insecurities because of his age, his life as a soldier, and his race. He possesses a “free and open nature,” which his ensign Iago uses to twist his love for his wife, Desdemona, into a powerful and destructive jealousy

5. Identify: Desdemona • The daughter of the Venetian senator Brabanzio. Desdemona and Othello are secretly married before the play begins. While in many ways stereotypically pure and meek, Desdemona is also determined and self-possessed. She is equally capable of defending her marriage, jesting bawdily with Iago, and responding with dignity to Othello’s incomprehensible jealousy

6. Identify: Iago • The villain of this play. While his reasoning for desiring Othello’s demise is that he has been passed over for promotion to lieutenant, Iago’s motivations are never very clearly expressed and seem to originate in an obsessive, almost sadistic delight in manipulation and destruction

7. Identify: Roderigo • A jealous suitor of Desdemona. Young, rich, and foolish, Roderigo is convinced that if he gives Iago all of his money, Iago will help him win Desdemona’s hand. Repeatedly frustrated as Othello marries Desdemona and then takes her to Cyprus, Roderigo is ultimately desperate enough to agree to help Iago kill Cassio after Iago points out that Cassio is another potential rival for Desdemona

8. Plot: • In Act 1, Scene 3 the scene starts off with the duke and assorted senators • They are discussing their reports about the Turkish fleet and where it is going to sail • After arguing they finally realize that the fleet sent to Rhodes was only a decoy and the real target was Cyprus • The governor of Cyprus sends a message to confirm that his city is to be soon under siege

9. Plot: • Brabantio enters with Cassio, Iago, Othello and Roderigo • The duke immediately asks Othello to join the fight but Brabantio speaks up and tells the duke his daughters been stolen from him • The duke assures Brabantio that the man who has stolen his daughter will get what’s coming to him • Brabantio then points out that the man is the duke’s current hero, Othello

10. Plot: • The duke asks Othello to explain himself so he agrees to tell them the story of how he won over Brabantio’s daughter • Brabantio insists that his daughter is pure, so there’s no way she could come to love Othello • Othello tells them to bring her in so she can confirm his story and if he is lying the senators may take away his title and life • Othello explains how Brabantio used to invite him over to listen to his stories and whenever he would come over, he noticed Desdemona would stop by and listen whenever she could

11. Plot: • Upon hearing about Othello’s bravery and adventurous life she flirted with him saying if he had a friend who could tell his stories and had his courage, she would love that guy • Othello claims that Desdemona loves him for the dangers he had escaped, and he loves her for the pity which she appreciates his dangerous escapes • At that moment Iago enters with Desdemona and her father asks her whether she was willingly marrying Othello • Then he questions where her loyalties now lie

12. Plot: • Desdemona replies that like her mother, she must love her husband more then her father • Brabantio is not pleased with her answer but agrees to give her to Othello • The duke brings the conversation back about Cyprus and Othello say’s he is happy to go help • Desdemona offers to accompany Othello because her love will only be complete if she can live with him • Othello agrees to this, and leaves his trusted friend Iago to follow bringing Desdemona and anything else Othello might need

13. Plot: • As everyone is parting the duke tries to cheer Brabantio up but instead Brabantio warns Othello that he should watch the girl because she is likely to deceive him the way she deceived her own father • Othello responds to him saying his life depends on Desdemona • After Othello and Desdemona have left, Iago stays behind with Roderigo • Roderigo states that he will drown himself out of lovesickness for Desdemona but Iago tells him that it’s foolishness • Iago promises that Desdemona’s feelings for Othello will soon go away and that Othello will have enough of her too

14. Plot: • Once Roderigo leaves, Iago then makes his true intentions known • He’s only fishing along Roderigo for fun and profit • He hates Othello because it was rumoured that Othello had slept with his wife before • Iago then decides to take out his competitor Cassio at the same time so he hatches his plan to tell Othello that Cassio was having an affair with his Desdemona • He knows Othello is very gullible, and his suspicion of Cassio will destroy his career, his marriage and himself

15. Significance of Act 1, Scene 3 • The importance of this act is that you see how prejudiced it was back then because Brabantio couldn’t accept that his daughter had fallen in love with a black man • This scene also represents a new path in Othello and Desdemona’s relationship since they are going to live together for the first time

16. Significance of Act 1, Scene 3 • As the reader you begin to see Iago’s true nature based on how he manipulates and reassures Roderigo • This scene also foreshadows events that happens later like when Othello says his life depends on her faithfulness and loyalty to him

17. Setting: • The setting of this scene is in Venice but soon after, they travel to Cyprus

18. Mood: • The mood of Act 1, Scene 3 is changing, yet throughout, it demands a lot of contempt for Iago. The reader feels some happiness for the newlywed it will soon fade due to Iago’s lies and deceit.

19. Significance Of Events/Developments • Shakespeare has written this scene at this particular point of the story because he needed to start the story going • Shakespeare needed to start moving the characters to Cyprus where all the drama and action would take place

20. Dramatic Irony • This whole story is an example of dramatic irony • We know right from the beginning that Iago is not really Othello’s friend but he doesn’t doesn’t find out till the very end when it is too late

21. Reacurring Motifs/Images • Jealousy is prominent throughout the whole play • Even in the beginning of the story, Roderigo is already jealous of Othello • Ultimately, jealousy destroys all of the characters mentally and literally