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7 Cards in this Set
- Front
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1.1 summary - a street in Venice |
- the play opens in medias res between Iago and Roderigo and they converse over their shared hatred for the moor - Iago complains as he has been passed over for promotion by Cassio and accuses Othello of favouritism - Roderigo uses racial slurs to show his hatred for Othello whilst Iago hints at his duplicitous nature and more sinister hatred for the moor - Iago convinces Roderigo to awake Brabantio and alert him of his daughter and Othello’s elopement - Iago leaves stating he cannot be seen opposing the moor and must retreat - the scene ends with brabantio promising Roderigo a reward for his aid |
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Analysis |
Shakespeare opens the play with Iago and establishes him as the tragic villain through his duplicity and manipulation of rider but also shows his power through his domination of the conversation with Roderigo due to the difference in how much they speak The lack of Othello is significant as the audience’s first depiction of him is that he is an unfair barbaric moor but when he is introduced later as an eloquent and rational leader we can see Iago’s villainy and are aware that his honest reputation is a just a fake visage Finally Roderigo acts as a proto-Othello as it is clear he is being manipulated so when Iago does the same to Othello so quickly the audience is more likely to still have pity for him as Iago has done this to many before him rather than seeing Othello as the stereotypical barbaric moor |
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Links to tragedy / big ideas |
Tragic villain - Iago is established as the villain of our play and prepares the audience to be sympathetic toward Othello Shakespeare critiques society’s preoccupation with pride and reputation through the pathetic and exaggerated weakness of Roderigo’s character as by presenting a gentlemen of such a civilised and powerful state in this way Shakespeare shows the effect of this toxic masculinity and it is this toxicity that allows the tragedy to take place. |
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Quotes |
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a great arithmetician , one Michale Cassio. Mere prattle without practice |
Iago shows his professional jealousy toward Cassio and believes his experience in war means he is worthy of promotion not Cassio as he is not even a real soldier in the eyes of Iago |
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I follow him to serve my turn upon him Throwing but shows of service on their lords Visages of duty In following him I follow but myself I am not what I am |
Iago clearly reveals to the audience that he only follows Othello for revenge and is not the honest man he presents himself to be but is truly an evil villain |
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An old black ram is tupping your white ewe The devil will make grandsire of you A Barbary horse Your daughter and the moor are now making the beast with two backs |
The racism and stereotypical nature of these statements are used by Shakespeare makes the entrance of Othello more dramatic by reverting the audiences expectations. However it is not the idea that Othello is black that offends characters such as Brabantio but it is the fear of miscegenation that drives his hatred |
