Othello Notes
Context: Othello is set in a private world and focuses on the passions and personal lives of its major figures.
Plot: Othello is a highly esteemed general in the service of Venice. Iago is Othello's ambitious friend and ensign. However, he promotes the Florentine Michael Cassio to the position of personal lieutenant and Iago is deadly jealous. Iago begins an evil and malicious campaign against the hero.
Act 1 Scene 1: The opening scene introduces, at least by name, the major players in the drama and sets in motion the major action of the play: Iago’s pursuit of revenge against Othello. It tells us also that a war is going on.
Roderigo and Iago are arguing in a Venetian street. Roderigo has hopes of marrying Desdemona, the daughter of a Venetian Senator, Brabantio.
Roderigo suspects that Iago knew about the secret marriage between Desdemona and Othello- Iago defends himself by saying that he had no idea that Othello planned to marry Desdemona and that he hates Othello.
The reason he hates Othello, he says, is that Othello promoted another solider, Michael Cassio, to become his lieutenant. Iago believes himself to be far better solider than Cassio and resents being passed over.
Iago continues to serve Othello- only pretending to serve Othello’s interests. He is really only using Othello to serve his own interests.
Iago incites Roderigo to call out to Brabantio to tell him that his daughter has eloped with Othello- only Roderigo identifies himself
Brabantio doesn’t think highly of Roderigo- thinks he is causing trouble- based on the past when he was wooing Desdemona.
Brabantio discovers Desdemona is not in the house- he comes into the street and asks Roderigo to lead him to Othello and his daughter.
The Moor: Shakespeare's audience would have come to the theatre with a prejudiced view of Othello. For Shakespeare’s audience, the word ‘Moor’ carried with it many suggestions, none of them positive. A Moor was a Moslem from North Africa (North African Moslems occupied much of Spain and were seen as a real threat to Christian Europe). Because of ignorance, Shakespeare's audience viewed Moslems as evil and inspired by the devil. The devil was usually presented in the theatre of the time as black. Shakespeare's audience would make certain assumptions about any Moor who might appear in a play; he would be foreign or strange, he would be evil, that is ‘black’ of spirit, and he would be ‘bestial’, particularly in sexual terms. This is the stereotypical Moor that Shakespeare’s audience would have expected to see on stage.
They were also seen as salves or servants, not people with status or authority in society- arrived in England as a result of the conflict in Spain.
Othello's ‘blackness’ is stressed through Iago’s reference to him as ‘thicklips’ and his animal sexual nature is emphasised by Iago’s description of him as an ‘old black ram’. The sexual act is described as ‘making the beast with two back’s.’
Act 1 Scene 2: Iago returns to Othello and warns him that Brabantio is searching for him
Othello answers that he does not fear Brabantio and declares his love for Desdemona
Cassio enters with the news that Venice is on the brink of war and Othello's presence is required urgently before the Duke of Venice.
Brabantio and armed assistants now arrive on the scene and Brabantio accuses Othello of seducing Desdemona with witchcraft.
Othello informs Barbantio that the Duke has summoned him and Brabantio agrees to the Duke hearing his complaints.
Passion over reason
Avoid facing unpleasant truths- deceiving others as well as ourselves
Othello- not uncivilised- but in control of his feelings- calm

Act 1 Scene 3: The Duke and his senators are deliberating over the reports that are coming in from various quarters about the imminent war.
The Duke greets Othello first and immediately tells him that he wants him to lead the Venetian forces to defend Cyprus.
Brabantio tells the Duke of the