Othello

Setting of Act I

Iago hates Othello, because he has promoted Cassio ahead of him.
Roderigo is in love with Desdemona.
Desdemona has married Othello without her father's permission.
Brabantio is enraged both by his daughter's disobedience, and by her choice of husband.
Othello is a valued military general, but is clearly still an outsider in Venice.

Iago is convincing in his show of loyalty to Othello.
Cassio is completely loyal to Othello and so contrasts with Iago.
Brabantio is convinced Othello used witchcraft to seduce Desdemona.
Othello is calm and self-assured, a strong and, seemingly unflappable presence at this point.

The Venetian Council meet to discuss the threat of a Turkish attack on Cyprus.
Othello is a valued military commander.
The Duke is initially sympathetic to Brabantio's claims that his daughter was stolen from him, until he discovers it was Othello.

Othello speaks eloquently, and claims the only witchcraft he used were the true stories of his adventurous past.
Desdemona speaks for herself. She chooses Othello over her father, Brabantio.
The Duke sides with his prized General, Othello.
Desdemona asks to accompany her husband.

The theme of revenge is seen in Iago's quest to destroy Othello, for what he sees as Othello's slight in appointing Cassio over him.
The theme of love is seen in Othello and Desdemona's elopement. Their marriage seems to be a true meeting of minds, their friendship having formed a solid basis for their feelings.
The theme of racism is seen in Roderigo and Iago's derogatory terms for Othello's racial features, and also in Brabantio being quite happy to have Othello as a friend, but not as a son-in-law.

The antagonist Iago is clearly a manipulative and unscrupulous villain.
Iago sees other people merely as obstacles or aids to his ambition.
Iago is often considered to be the most villainous of all Shakespeare's villains.
Yet everyone thinks highly of Iago.

Roderigo is a pathetic creature, trying to buy the affections of a woman who has repeatedly refused him.
Many actors playing Roderigo play him for laughs, and this adds much needed comic relief to the play.

Othello, once a slave, has risen to the highest ranks of the Venetian military.
He is a stereotypical hero in every way but one, his colour.
He knows his worth to the Duke, and deals calmly and confidently with every challenge.
He claims to have been quite happy as a single man, but has married for true love.

Desdemona shows considerable courage in defying her father.
A girl at this time was her father's property, and could only marry with his permission.
Her absolute love for Othello is clear right from the start.
Eloping with Othello was the only way she could be with him, and shows bravery.

Brabantio is deeply hurt by his daughter's betrayal, and outraged by her choice of husband.
A General would normally be considered excellent husband material, but Brabantio is fearful of Othello's exotic roots, and worried for his daughter.

"I follow him to serve my turn upon him."
"'tis not long after but I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at: I am not what I am."
"an old black ram is topping your white ewe."
"I have charged thee not to haunt about my doors: in honest plainness thou hast heard me say my daughter is not for thee."
"you'll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse."
"your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs."

"Is there not charms by which the property of youth and maidhood may be abused?"
"Let him do his spite: my services which I have done the signiory shall out-tongue his complaints."
"But that I love the gentle Desdemona, I would not my unhoused free condition put into circumscription and confine for the sea's worth."
"My parts, my title and my perfect soul / Shall manifest me rightly."
"Whether a maid so tender, fair and happy,"
"So opposite to marriage that she shunned."

"The wealthy curled darlings of our nation,
Would ever have, to incur a general mock,
Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom
Of such a thing as thou, to fear, not to delight. "
"Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you against the general enemy Ottoman. "
"A maiden never bold; of spirit so still and quiet, that her motion blush'd at herself; and she, in spite of nature, of years, of country, credit, every thing, to fall in love with what she fear'd to look on!"

"If you do find me foul in her report, the trust, the office I do hold of you, not only take away, but let your sentence even fall upon my life."
"Her father loved me; oft invited me…"
"…she wish'd that heaven had made her such a man: she thank'd me, and bade me, if I had a friend that loved her, I should but teach him how to tell my story. And that would woo her."
"I do perceive here a divided duty."
"I think this tale would win my daughter too."

"If virtue no delighted beauty lack, / Your son-in-law is far more fair than black."
"Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see: / She has deceived her father, and may thee."