Othello: Act One

Scene 1

The opening scene takes place in a street in Venice at night. ______and ______arguing about ______. The scene has a mood of ______and ______. Roderigo says “thou told’st me though didst ______”. Roderigo is displeased with Iago; he feels he has been cheated because a young Venetian aristocrat, ______, has married Othello the Moor without her father’s knowledge. Roderigo has paid Iago to promote a marriage between himself and Desdemona. He feels Iago has not worked hard enough on his behalf and is indignant that his money has been wasted. Iago attempts to restore Roderigo’s faith in him by describing how much he hates ______. He explains that he hates him because ______. He describes Cassio saying he “never ______/ Nor the ______/ ______spinster”. Iago is determined to revenge himself on the Moor for ignoring his experience and competence in favour of a man who, he says, has little practical experience of soldiering. He says “I follow him ______”. Iago explains he hates a certain type of servant: ____________ and respects people who exploit their masters to line their own pockets. A quote to show this is ______Iago states “I am not what I am”. He means ______

______

Iago urges Roderigo to rouse ______(Desdemona’s father) from his bed to inform him of the marriage. Brabantio appears at the window, annoyed at being disturbed. He recognises Rodergio and castigates him for lurking outside his house; he has already told Roderigo that he is not an acceptable match for Desdemona. As they call to him from the street, Iago uses ______and ______imagery to describe Othello and Desdemona having sex. He describes Othello as “an old ______”, “the ______”, “a ______horse”, and warns Brabantio that he will have “nephews ______”

To begin with Brabantio refuses to believe their claims. He calls Iago a “______”. Roderigo convinces Brabantio that it is true stating “If she be in her chamber or your house, / ______/ For thus deluding you”. Brabantio mentions that he ______about what has happened.

Iago leaves explaining that it would be embarrassing to the Moor if his personal officer were associated with these events. His other motivation is ____________

Brabantio asks Roderigo “what’s to come of my despised time / Is naught but bitterness”. He means ______. He describes their actions as “treason of the blood”. He means ______. In his emotional state it occurs to him that Desdemona may have been manipulated with ______.

1.  Why is Brabantio so upset about Desdemona’s behaviour?

______

______

2.  This scene establishes Iago as a powerful and manipulative figure. How?

______

______

3.  Jealousy is an important theme in Othello. Which characters are jealous in this scene and why?

______

______

4.  Loyalty and Betrayal is another important theme. Who is loyal in this scene? Who betrays?

______

______

5.  Desdemona deceives her father. Given Elizabethan expectations of women at this time, what do her actions suggest about her character?

______

______

Scene 2

The second scene opens halfway through another conversation. This one is between Iago and ______. Iago claims that although he has killed men in war “I hold it ______ / ______”. He tells Othello that ______has been insulting him. When Iago warns Othello that ______is a popular figure who may use his influence to have the marriage overturned, Othello is confident that his services to the ______and his ______will speak for him. He also emphasises his ______for Desdemona.

When Iago hears someone approaching he advises the general to go inside. Othello replies that he “must ______” and has nothing to be ashamed of. Cassio enters with a message from the Duke who urgently needs Othello’s assistance. On the way to the Duke Othello is accosted by Brabantio and his followers who are armed. Othello commands the men to “Keep up ______them” and responds with dignity to Brabantio’s claims of evil enchantment. The senator urges his men to seize the “foul ______” who has stolen his daughter. Othello offers to answer Brabantio’s accusations. They go to the Duke’s.

1.  What do we learn about Othello’s character in this scene? ______

2.  What do we learn about Iago’s character?

______

Scene 3

In the council chamber the Duke and Venetia senators discuss conflicting reports about the movement of the ______fleet. After receiving further information from the commander in Cyprus (M______) it seems clear that the Turks intend to attack that island. When Othello and Brabantio enter, the Duke immediately tells Othello to prepare to go to war. He welcomes Brabantio and tells him his presence has been sorely missed. Brabantio repeats his accusations against Othello. The meeting to discuss military matters now becomes a trial of Othello. The Duke asks Othello to respond to the charges against him. Othello asks that Desdemona be brought to the chamber. In the interim he explains how he used to visit Brabantio and tell the stories of his life. Desdemona “d______” these stories. He says “She loved me ______/ ______”.

Desdemona’s polite but firm insistence that she owes her love and duty to her husband confirms Othello’s version of their courtship. Desdemona was indeed “half ______”. Brabantio is bitterly disappointed and finds it impossible to accept Othello as a son-in-law despite the Duke’s attempts to persuade him to make the best of things. The Duke returns to military business and tells Othello to prepare to depart for ______. Desdemona asks to be allowed to accompany her husband. Othello insists that her presence will not distract from ______affairs and places his wife in ______charge. Just before Othello leaves Brabantio warns him: “Look ______/ She ______thee”.

Act one closes as it began with ______and ______in conversation. Rodergio is despondent and says that he will ______ himself since he can no longer hope to win ______. Iago is impatient with this sort of foolish talk and persuades him that Desdemona will soon look elsewhere for love because her feelings are “merely ______blood”. He argues that the romance had a violent commencement and therefore cannot last. Roderigo is cheered by this idea and agrees to come to ______.

Once Roderigo has left Iago is alone on stage. He reveals his true motives. He is toying with Roderigo “for ______profit”. He suspects Othello of cuckolding him: “It is thought ______/ He’s ______”. Iago is determined to take Cassio’s place and muses about the best way to achieve this. He decides he can easily abuse Othello’s “______ and ______” nature and will try to persuade him that Cassio is “too ______with his wife”.

1.  What is Othello and Desdemona’s love based on? What might be problematic about this?

______

______

2.  Othello reveals he knows little of peace. He is used to war. How might this affect his relationship with Desdemona?

______

______

3.  List Iago’s motives for destroying Othello. Are they convincing? Why/why not?

______

______

So far, do you have any questions about the plot/characters/themes?