Othello

1
Othello

• Character of Iago
• Opening Scene

2
Dramatic Impact

• The very first line shows that Roderigo does not
  believe what Iago is saying
• Tush, never tell me!
• Introducing the theme of truth and deception
• It is a lively argument, carried out as they walk
  quickly to Brabantios house
• Othello is off stage and referred to at first
  simply as he or him
• How does Shakespeare intend the audience to react?

3
Iago

• In this first scene we also begin to make our
  judgement of Iagos character

4
Trusted

• thou, Iago, who hadst my purse
• As if the strings were thine. (2-3)
• Roderigo shows the trust that he has put in Iago

5
Bitter

• He has been passed over for promotion
• by the faith of man
• I know my price, I am worth no worse a place
• He would be better suited to being Othellos
  lieutenant than Cassio, who never set a
  squadron in the field
• Accuses Othello of being proud and boastful
• loving his own pride and purposes
• Evades them with a bombast circumstance,
• Horribly stuffed with epithets of war (12-14)

6
Obsessed with rank and colour

• These ideas are linked in Shakespeares language
  colours are the flags carried by soldiers and
  also markers of importance
• He mentions he has Off-cappd to him
• He feels he is not paid enough (30-31)
• He calls Othello his Moorship mixing the
  ideas of race and rank
• He talks of preferment and gradation
• Feeling that people are promoted goes by
  affection who you know
• He hates being socially inferior to a black man

7
Deceptive

• He gets Roderigos trust by (ironically) being
  open about why he serves Othello
• I follow him to serve upon my turn.
• In following him, I follow but myself
• I am not what I am. (66)
• All of these statements show that Iago helps
  Othello for his own betterment

8
Clever and Persuasive

• Iago incites Roderigo to accuse Othello to
  Brabantio
• He recognises Roderigos feelings for Desdemona
  as a weakness and an opportunity which he will
  use to his advantage
• He is of a lower social class but commands
  Roderigo Rouse himProclaim him

9
Crude and Racist

• When they rouse Brabantio, Iago says
• Your heart is burst you have lost half your
  soul
• Even now, now, very now, an old black ram
• Is tupping, your white ewe.
• His imagery is often animalistic.
• He sees peoples motivations as base and
  primitive
• Brabantio recognises Iago as a villain and a
  profane wretch

10
Writing

• What reasons does Iago give for hating Othello?
• What impression does the audience get of the
  character of Iago?
• How does the audience feel towards Othello after
  the first scene?