Othello, by William Shakespeare
Act I, sc. i
Roderigo thinks Iago is keeping a secret.
Iago is angry because he has not received a promotion to lieutenant.
Roderigo tells Iago to quit.
Iago states that he will be a good soldier on the outside, but will be taking care of himself only.
Iago and Roderigo then go to wake up Brabantio, Desdemona’s father.
They inform him that “thieves” have stolen something from him.
They inform him that his daughter is not in her bed and that she is sleeping with a Moor, Othello.
Brabantio begins to believe the men.
Iago leaves because he doesn’t want his general, Othello, to see him involved in this matter.
Desdemona is not in her bed!
Roderigo and Brabantio will gather some armed men and find Othello.
Brabantio will reward Roderigo for his effort in this matter.
Act I, sc. ii
Iago begins the scene with Othello.
Iago is lying to Othello concerning what happened at Brabantio’s home.
According to Iago, Brabantio will try to annul Othello and Desdemona’s wedding.
Othello is not concerned. He has served Venice well.
Othello reveals that he is from a royal family.
Iago advises Othello to hide when Brabantio and his men come to find him, but Othello chooses to face them.
Cassio, Othello’s new lieutenant, appears to Othello first.
Cassio reveals there is a serious issue with the Turks.
Iago reveals to Cassio that Othello has married…
Brabantio and his men appear and draw their swords on Othello and call him a thief.
Iago offers to fight Roderigo (reveals his cowardice).
Brabantio claims that Othello must have cast a spell on his beautiful daughter to make her fall in love with him(kidnapped, drugged or cast a spell).
Brabantio orders the men to arrest Othello.
Othello states that he is already on his way to see The Duke.
Brabantio states they should all go see The Duke now.
Brabantio states that the law is on his side and that all the senators will back him against Othello.
Brabantio states that if we allow this marriage, they will allow slaves and heathens to be their rulers.
Othello, Act I, sc. iii
The Duke receives inconsistent information regarding the number of warships approaching Cyprus.
A sailor appears and tells The Duke that the attack will be on Rhodes and not on Cyprus. They do not believe this report.
Othello begins to tell The Duke about his love for Desdemona.
Brabantio claims the devil must be behind this love.
The Duke and the senators begin to question Othello.
They send for Desdemona.
Othello continues to tell the story of how they fell in love.
-Othello was frequently invited to Brabantio’s home.
He would tell stories about his life and his battles.
Desdemona would listen carefully and she fell in love with his stories, his life and Othello himself.
After hearing this, The Duke suggests that Brabantio get used to the idea of the marriage.
Desdemona enters and she professes her loyalty to Othello.
Brabantio states that he will give his blessing, but he is truly not happy about it.
The Duke then turns to Othello and they begin to discuss the war at Cyprus.
Othello will leave, but he requests a safe place for his wife.
The Duke states that she will stay with her father, but Brabantio will not allow it.
Desdemona wants to accompany Othello on his travels.
The Duke does not care if she goes with him.
Roderigo wants to kill himself now that the marriage has been approved by The Duke.
Iago talks him out of suicide.
Iago builds him up and tells him sell all of his lands to get a lot of money.
Desdemona will eventually leave the Moor and Roderigo will be there with a ton of money.
Iago’s plan is to take as much money as he can from Roderigo. He doesn’t really care about him.
In his soliloquoy, Iago reveals that there is a rumor that Othello slept with his wife.
He will use Cassio to hurt Othello.
Iago will begin to plant a seed in Othello’s mind about an affair between Cassio and Desdemona.