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Resources for Language Arts Classrooms
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The scene opens with the Duke and a few senators discussing reports of a Turkish fleet headed towards Cyprus. A sailor enters and informs them that Signior Angelo has sent a message. He wants them to know that the Turkish fleet has changed position and they are now making for the island of Rhodes. The council believes that the Turks might be trying to only make it look like they’re heading towards Rhodes. Rhodes is well-defended and less important than Cyprus.
They are interrupted again by another messenger who says that the Turkish fleet met up with more ships on their way to Rhodes. Then, the entire squadron began to retrace their old path, moving back towards Cyprus. The Duke is now convinced they aim to attack Cyprus.
Othello and his men then enter with Brabantio. The Duke straight-out tells Othello that they need to employ him to go fight the Ottomans (the Turks) as soon as possible. The Duke then addresses Brabantio, stating that they could have used his counsel tonight. Brabantio apologizes, stating that his worries have been so grand tonight that they have swallowed up other sorrows. Brabantio then says that his daughter has been corrupted by spells. The Duke promises Brabantio that the law will punish the evil-doer.
Brabantio quickly says it’s Othello that has bewitched his daughter. Othello is quick to defend himself in an eloquent speech. He says that he indeed married Brabantio’s daughter. He states that since he was young he has known nothing but battle, so he doesn’t know much about how he can defend himself against these accusations. He can, however, say that the only spell he used was one of simple love. Love is what he used to win over Desdemona.
The Duke has Desdemona fetched on over from an inn, the Sagittary. She will speak before the Duke and his council so that they can get to the bottom of things. Othello says if they find him guilty, then they can take away his role as general and they can punish him accordingly.
As they wait for Desdemona, Othello recounts how they fell in love. Brabantio liked Othello and invited him over often. He would ask Othello to tell the stories of his life. Othello obliged and Desdemona grew interested in his stories too. She wasn’t able to hear all of his stories, so when he had a chance he spoke to her and filled in the gaps with things she had missed. After listening to his tales, she grew to pity what he went through. She also fell in love with him because of the dangerous things he overcame. He fell for her since she pitied him. Othello says that this was the only witchcraft he used. The Duke says that such a story would win over his daughter too.
Desdemona enters. Brabantio asks her who she owes her obedience to the most. Desdemona describes that she owes so much to her father; however, now she also owes her obedience to her husband. Unfortunately for Brabantio, like her mother before her, she prefers her duties as a wife over her duties as a daughter. At those words, Brabantio becomes accepting of Desdemona’s marriage with Othello. He gives Othello his acceptance with all his heart.
Othello agrees to go and defend Cyprus. He asks that Desdemona be well-taken care of while he’s gone. The Duke suggests that she stays at her father’s house; however, the idea doesn’t go well with Othello nor with Brabantio. Instead, Desdemona asks to go with Othello. Othello pushes for her to go with him. The Duke doesn’t care what Desdemona does, just as long as Othello quickly leaves for Cyprus.
The Duke and his men are about to leave the scene. Before they go, though, Brabantio warns Othello that he must keep a close watch on Desdemona because she might deceive him just like she deceived her father.
Othello is going to leave immediately for Cyprus. Before leaving, he asks that Iago join him in Cyprus afterwards. Iago, Othello’s trusted friend, is to bring Desdemona with him; thus, Iago must oversee Desdemona’s safe passage to Cyprus.
OTHELLO -- ACT I, 3
Roderigo and Iago are left alone onstage. Roderigo is ready to drown himself over his loss of any chance with Desdemona. Iago comforts him by saying that, personally, he’d rather become a baboon than kill himself over the love of a woman. Roderigo says that he can’t help but be so fond of Desdemona, and he can’t change what he feels. He, then, asks Iago what he should do. Iago says that it’s up to people to decide how they feel. He compares people to gardeners who must take control of their gardens, their bodies. People just need to use
their will to tend to their gardens in any way they see fit. Iago tells Roderigo that he just needs to use his mind and his will to help himself come to his senses.
Iago, then, tries to convince Roderigo to get as much money as he can so that he can eventually woo Desdemona with wealth. Iago suspects that Desdemona will quickly tire herself of the barbarian Othello. After which, Roderigo can step in with his wealth to catch Desdemona’s eyes. Roderigo asks if Iago will support him if he does so, and Iago pledges his support. Roderigo forgets about his plans to drown himself and he leaves to start gathering money.
Iago, left on stage alone, confesses that he is going to use Roderigo’s money for his own personal gain. He says that he would never hang out with somebody like Roderigo unless it was for sport (fun) and profit (money). Iago then says that he hates the Moor, Othello. There is word out on the street that Othello has slept with his wife. Even if the rumors aren’t true, he still wants to get revenge on Othello. Othello sees Iago in a positive light, so it will be easy to carry out his plot against him. He plans to use Cassio’s good-looks to his advantage by convincing Othello that Cassio is growing too close to Desdemona. By convincing Othello that Desdemona is having an affair, he can perhaps have Cassio vanquished from his position and then Iago can take over as lieutenant. To make matters even easier, Othello is gullible and he sees everything for face-value. Othello doesn’t see people for what they really are, instead, he only sees people as they appear to be. He knows that Othello can easily be led by the nose like a donkey.
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