Othello, act 1, scene 1

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  • Act 1 - Iago and Roderigo discuss Othello...
    • Key Themes... Jealousy - Iago is jealous of Cassio. Questions his abilities as a soldier - 'a spinster' and 'prattle without practice.'
      • Sexuality  - 'making the beast with two backs' shows its crude and unnatural. Also exaggerates sinfulness of marriage.
        • Honesty and deception - Iago decieves Othello and Brab. Shows his dishonesty.
          • Racism - Othello is described as 'thick lips' = different and uncivilised. 'Devil' and 'lascivious moor' = defined by race.
            • Key Themes... Jealousy - Iago is jealous of Cassio. Questions his abilities as a soldier - 'a spinster' and 'prattle without practice.'
              • Sexuality  - 'making the beast with two backs' shows its crude and unnatural. Also exaggerates sinfulness of marriage.
                • Honesty and deception - Iago decieves Othello and Brab. Shows his dishonesty.
                  • Racism - Othello is described as 'thick lips' = different and uncivilised. 'Devil' and 'lascivious moor' = defined by race.
      • Scene starts mid conversation: the audience has no idea what they're talking about. Discuss Othello in crude and critical terms. Never use his name = confusion.
        • Takes place at night which emphasises confusion. Brab asleep - darkness links to a theme of struggle between appearances and reality.
          • Conflict - Iago and Rod seem             argumentative and Brab is angry.
            • Scene starts mid conversation: the audience has no idea what they're talking about. Discuss Othello in crude and critical terms. Never use his name = confusion.
              • Takes place at night which emphasises confusion. Brab asleep - darkness links to a theme of struggle between appearances and reality.
                • Conflict - Iago and Rod seem             argumentative and Brab is angry.
        • Iago is deceptive and manipulate - he admits it: 'in following him, I follow but myself'. Language is full of disease and poison - 'poison his delight' and 'plague' him with flies' = darker purpose.
          • 'I am not what I am' - inconsistency between how he appears and how he really is. Introduces mysterious nature & unwillingness to show true thoughts.
            • 'I must show out a flag and sign of love' maintains loyalty after telling Brab.
              • 'Thieves' manipulates Brab to show Othello has stolen his daughter.
                • Iago is deceptive and manipulate - he admits it: 'in following him, I follow but myself'. Language is full of disease and poison - 'poison his delight' and 'plague' him with flies' = darker purpose.
                  • 'I am not what I am' - inconsistency between how he appears and how he really is. Introduces mysterious nature & unwillingness to show true thoughts.
                    • 'I must show out a flag and sign of love' maintains loyalty after telling Brab.
                      • 'Thieves' manipulates Brab to show Othello has stolen his daughter.
          • Summary - Roderigo has paid Iago to help him win Desdemona's love. Roderigo is angry because she has married Othello
            • Iago tells Roderigo that he hates Othello for promoting Cassio to lieutenant ahead of him.
              • They wake up Brabantio and tell him about her secret marriage to Othello. Brabantio is furious when he discovers that she's run away and goes to confront Othello with Iago,
            • They wake up Brabantio and tell him about her secret marriage to Othello. Brabantio is furious when he discovers that she's run away and goes to confront Othello with Iago,

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