Essay on Act 1 Scene 1 as an Effective Opening to Othello

We are introduced to the antagonist, Iago and another character that shares hate for Othello also because he loves Desdemona in Act 1 Scene 1. The first line in Act 1 Scene 1 states ' Tush, never tell me! I take it much unkindly. That thou, iago, whon hast had my purse. As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this' In translation ‘All this time I’ve thought you were such a good friend that I’ve let you spend my money as if it was yours’. That opening statement already demonstrates Iago’s inner personality and builds a slight reputation from readers for him. As Iago convinces his plan of the destruction of Othello will work, we also start to notice how casually and easily Iago can convince characters using his strong

Evidence of jealousy in Iago is more prominent and very evident in the beginning of the play when he explains to Roderigo that Othello has moved Cassio to lieutenant (the position Iago desires) although three of Venice’s most noble nobleman have informed Othello and Iago has fought in front of Othello in Rhodes and Cyprus (Shakespeare 1.1. 10 - 30). Iago’s sly behavior and ability to use other character’s roles and trust such as Othello’s love for Desdemona, Cassio’s pride in serving as Othello’s trustful lieutenant, and Rodrigo's over commitment to win over Desdemona from Othello allows his plan to fall through. His motive throughout the play is to get Cassio demoted from the

Iago’s speech in Act 1, Scene 1, manipulates how we see the play from the start. We can see the dynamic between Othello and Iago, as well as Iago’s deceitful nature. He says, “I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at; I am not what I am”. In this moment we gain insight as an audience, whereas the characters do not. Shakespeare provides us with an additional understanding of the play, exposing the manipulation. When Iago says, “I follow to serve my turn upon him; we cannot all be masters, nor all masters cannot be truly followed.”, he is explaining how he is going to feign

Early on, Othello is seen as rational and calm nobleman, whose ethnicity does not seem to over shadow the fact that he is still a great solider, but does prove that there is a separation among him and the others, in which Othello is repeatedly referred to as “The Moor”. In the beginning Othello refers to the men around him as good, noble men and compliments them left and right but he is also perceived as a threat to those around him; especially to Iago who infers that Othello’s status and his ability to make important decisions affects him directly. Stating of Othello; “Despise me, If I do not. Three great ones of the city (In personal suit to make me his lieutenant) Off-capped to him, and by the faith of man I know my price; I am worth no worse a place. But he (as loving his own pride and purposes) evades them with a bombast circumstance horribly stuffed with epithets of war, and in conclusion Nonsuits my mediators. For “Certes,” says he, I have already chosen my officer.” Iago is furious with Othello for not choosing him to be lieutenant; a

Othello's defense, meanwhile, is both eloquent and honest--his nobility is never more evident than in these early speeches, which serve to balance Iago's earlier descriptions of the Othello/Desdemona marriage in crudely sexual terms. Othello's account of the courtship and his wife's confirmation testify to the authenticity of their romance--which is an important theme of the play. The tragedy succeeds so well only because the audience is never allowed to doubt that Othello and Desdemona are truly in love with one another. In telling the story of how he was passed over for promotion to lieutenant, Iago says that three influential men apparoached Othello on Iago's behalf, "But he, as loving his own pride and purposes, / Evades them, with a bombast circumstance / Horribly stuff'd with epithets of war" (1.1.12-14). "Bombast" is cotton stuffing; "circumstance" is wordy rigmarole; and "epithets of war" are military terms. In short, Iago accuses Othello of using phony military reasons to give the job to Cassio, who has no military experience. However, later in the scene, after the enraged Brabantio declares that he will hunt Othello down, Iago admits that Venice

One major grievance that is apparent from the play’s opening and continues to escalate throughout the play is identity, not in the sense of race, but mainly in the sense of reputation. Cassio and Othello share many similarities, revealed within Acts Two and Three of the play. Both, Othello and Cassio rely heavily on their reputations, an intangible aspect of identity. For Othello, his reputation is a sole concern because he is so different. Othello seeks to be remembered for all the things he did right and his good standing with the Signior as Majorie Garber, a Harvard professor, states, after the death of Desdemona Othello speaks saying “when you shall see these unlucky deeds relate; speak of me as I am” (Garber, 615).

“Othello”, by William Shakespeare, is a story of jealousy’s potential to manipulate thoughts and eventually lead to ultimate demise. The key to extremely detrimental jealousy lies within one’s ability to recognize it or deny it. It seems that the important theme of “Othello” is that if jealousy is not recognized and immediately dealt with, it receives a head start to commence the process of rotting away all normal human reason. Othello’s speech in Act III scene iii beginning with line 178 is the first and most important indicator of the trouble ominously looming on Othello’s horizon. His immediate response to Iago’s accusations is that of total denial. By depriving himself of that initial venting process, Othello gives his jealousy the

Othello is described by Iago as being pompous and immodest, Iago is only serving Othello to “serve [his] turn upon him”, this immediately shows the self-serving nature of Iago. We are quickly shown that Iago is bitter and twisted that he has not gained the rank of Othello’s lieutenant, thus his estimation of Othello is not fully believed or accredited by the audience. Furthermore Iago goes on to admit to his own deceptive nature by explaining he is not what he seems to be, he explains “I am not what I am”. In the first scene Iago launches into a speech of how he despises “knee-crooking knave” who serves his master for nothing but “provender” (bed and board). He then explains how he admires the servant who wears a “visage of duty” while serving no one but himself. These servants “have lined their coats” and then when they have used their master for money they “Do themselves homage”. Iago, once more, confesses to being one of these self serving and deceptive men. By showing Iago’s true colours, Shakespeare is casting Iago’s view of Othello in a very low estimation.

Shakespeare shows his audience Othello’s hubris, the Achilles heel in the marvelous, war mongering general. In Act 1, traitorous Iago ‘warns’ Othello of the on coming men, seeking to harm him. However Othello replies back, boasting about his title, “My services which I have done the signiory shall out-tounge his complaints” This statement shows Othello has a lot of pride in himself, and his title, to the extent which he believes he is untouchable by the law and that the council of Venice won’t allow anything to harm him, as he is Othello. “My parts, my title, and my perfect soul shall manifest me rightly” This pride, is the actual downfall in Othello, as he didn’t choose to promote his ‘loyal friend’ Iago which in turn hurt Iago’s pride, and forced him to act upon Othello by poisioning his naïve mind with treacherous

This commentary will analyze Act 3 Scene 4 of Othello. It will do so while referencing themes, diction, setting, etc. Important factors to keep in mind while analyzing passage 4 are what is going on in this passage and what is happening rior to? And also what impact does the passage have on this play? Important characters in this scene are inclusive, but not limited to, Iago, Cassio, Othello, Emilia, and Desdemona.

This quote suggests Iago’s duplicitous behaviour as he adopts a false persona when around Othello as a loyal and trustworthy “ancient” (1.1.35) while ironically, he desires to “serve [his] turn upon [Othello]” and take advantage of him as he looks out for himself and himself only. Iago’s characterization and personality can be seen as multifaceted as it has more than one aspect to it. As Iago says “You shall mark many a duteous and knee-crooking knave that, doting on his own obsequious

In Shakespeare’s Othello, the title character is not introduced immediately in the first scene; instead the supporting character Roderigo and Iago appear first. Iago is the ruthless, cunning and deceptive puppet master of Shakespeare’s play. The final sentence of this speech to Roderigo in Act I scene I is significant for what is to come in the play. Iago is deciphering his perspective of what he thinks of the world they live in, but also of himself and Othello, and how Iago is foreshadowing how he will manipulate Othello’s weakness for his own personnel gain.

When one watches a play, they are catching a glimpse into the characters lives. They are catching a narrow window of their existence. They do not know where they came from, what kind of experiences they have had, or what may have influenced them over the course of their lives. The central protagonist of Othello is none other than Othello himself, a man whose background ultimately shape and dictate his life during the play.

The audience gets to see how sick and twisted Iago is. The audience also learn that every action Iago made was thought out. This relates to Iago’s actions and overall understanding of himself by showing that he felt like in order for him to get what he wants he has to manipulate and deceive everyone around

In act ii Othello becomes strict. Othello has to turn to commander side because, adult decisions have to be made. In act ii scene iii Cassio has taken too many drinks and walks out of the party room. When Cassio walks out he gets a rude greeting from Roderigo. Roderigo is calling him names and talking down on Cassio.