Act 1 Scene 3Act 1 Scene 3

The beginning of the scene makes clear The beginning of the scene makes clear that Venice is in danger of attack from that Venice is in danger of attack from the Turksthe Turks

The senator and Duke call Othello The senator and Duke call Othello “valiant”“valiant”

Brabantio comes across as hysterical. Brabantio comes across as hysterical. Again he talks of “some dram conjur’d”Again he talks of “some dram conjur’d”

B says that she could not “fall in love B says that she could not “fall in love with what she fear’d to look on”with what she fear’d to look on”

Again Othello acts humbly and Again Othello acts humbly and respectfully (76-77) and he tells them it respectfully (76-77) and he tells them it is “true” he has taken Desdemonais “true” he has taken Desdemona

Desdemona’s LoveDesdemona’s Love Desdemona fell in love with Othello while Desdemona fell in love with Othello while

listening to him talk about battles and listening to him talk about battles and travelstravels

Desdemona often cried when Othello Desdemona often cried when Othello described “some distressful stroke That described “some distressful stroke That my youth suffer’d”my youth suffer’d”

Othello summarises their love:Othello summarises their love: ““she lov’d me for the dangers I had pass’dshe lov’d me for the dangers I had pass’d

And I lov’d her that she did pity them.And I lov’d her that she did pity them.

This is the only witchcraft I have us’d”This is the only witchcraft I have us’d”

OthelloOthello O claims that ”Rude am I in my speech”O claims that ”Rude am I in my speech” Yet his power over words made Desdemona Yet his power over words made Desdemona

love himlove him His His honesthonest words persuade the Duke he is words persuade the Duke he is

worthy of Desdemonaworthy of Desdemona With D’s help he also persuades BrabantioWith D’s help he also persuades Brabantio The Duke states:The Duke states:

““of virtue no delighted beauty lack,of virtue no delighted beauty lack,

Your son-in-law is far more fair than black”Your son-in-law is far more fair than black” Here the appearance is used metaphorically. Here the appearance is used metaphorically.

Fair = virtuous. Black = evil.Fair = virtuous. Black = evil.

AnalysisAnalysis

Reread Othello’s speech, lines 127-Reread Othello’s speech, lines 127-169169

Find rhetorical techniques which Find rhetorical techniques which Othello usesOthello uses

What type of sentence structure does What type of sentence structure does he use?he use?

What punctuation marks do you What punctuation marks do you notice? notice?

Interested, intrigued, impressedInterested, intrigued, impressed

LoveLove Desdemona wants to be with Othello even Desdemona wants to be with Othello even

though it means travel, hardship and though it means travel, hardship and potentially dangerpotentially danger

Othello vows to look after her but also Othello vows to look after her but also shows the respect that he has for hershows the respect that he has for her

He will take her “He will take her “to be free and bounteous to be free and bounteous to her mind”to her mind”

Desdemona says that she “saw Othello’s Desdemona says that she “saw Othello’s visage in his mind, / And to his honours and visage in his mind, / And to his honours and his valiant parts / Did I my soul and fortunes his valiant parts / Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate” (I.iii. 250–252).consecrate” (I.iii. 250–252).

she has the power to see him for what he is she has the power to see him for what he is in a way that even Othello himself cannot in a way that even Othello himself cannot

Othello’s judgementOthello’s judgement At the moment where Othello has At the moment where Othello has

impressed the audience Shakespeare impressed the audience Shakespeare shows that he has a shows that he has a misplaced trustmisplaced trust in Iago:in Iago:

““A man he is of honesty and trust”A man he is of honesty and trust” ““Honest Iago”Honest Iago” Dramatic IronyDramatic Irony Brabantio warns O that “Brabantio warns O that “She has She has

deceived her father and may theedeceived her father and may thee”” O swears “O swears “My life upon her faith!”My life upon her faith!”

IagoIago Notice here Iago speaks to Roderigo Notice here Iago speaks to Roderigo

in prose (307+) – makes him seem in prose (307+) – makes him seem low in social status and moralslow in social status and morals

Iago shows he does not believe in Iago shows he does not believe in love:love:

““It is merely a lust of the blood and a It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission of the willpermission of the will””

Iago says repeatedly “Iago says repeatedly “I hate the I hate the MoorMoor””

And says he wants “And says he wants “revenge”revenge”

Iago’s soliloquyIago’s soliloquy This is a speech where one character speaks This is a speech where one character speaks

directly to the audiencedirectly to the audience Soliloquies are normally granted to heroesSoliloquies are normally granted to heroes He says he is using Roderigo for “He says he is using Roderigo for “sport and sport and

profit”- profit”- he enjoys it and benefits from ithe enjoys it and benefits from it ““I hate the MoorI hate the Moor

and it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheetsand it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheetsHe has done my office”He has done my office”

Words – “Words – “abuse Othello’s ear”abuse Othello’s ear” He will take advantage of O’s character:He will take advantage of O’s character:““The Moor is of a free and open nature,The Moor is of a free and open nature,That thinks men honest that but seem to be soThat thinks men honest that but seem to be soAnd will as tenderly be led by the noseAnd will as tenderly be led by the noseAs asses are” As asses are” (I.iii.390-393) (I.iii.390-393)

WritingWriting

Choose a play in which the Choose a play in which the dramatist’s dramatist’s use of contrast use of contrast between two charactersbetween two characters is is important to your important to your understanding of understanding of one of themone of them..

Discuss how your understanding of Discuss how your understanding of this character is this character is strengthened by strengthened by the contrastthe contrast

Othello’s fatal flawOthello’s fatal flaw Othello shows here that he has a very Othello shows here that he has a very

trusting character.trusting character. He trusts the DukeHe trusts the Duke And the authoritiesAnd the authorities His wifeHis wife And IagoAnd Iago However, the trust he has in Iago is However, the trust he has in Iago is

misplacemisplace Characters in tragedy have a fatal Characters in tragedy have a fatal

flaw which leads to their downfall – flaw which leads to their downfall – this may be Othello’sthis may be Othello’s