ACT I, 2nd scene
Iago arrives at Othello’s lodgings asking if they were already married, here we must do a consideration: He warns Othello that Brabantio wants to cancel the marriage between him and Desdemona, through a divorce.
Othello firstly says that his noble origins and his military action would talk for him. They saw part of men approaching at his lodging, he thought it was Brabantio, but actually it was Cassio (Othello's liutentant) who announces the duke wanted his presence in order to talk about Cyprus and the imminent war against Turks. But after the announce Brabantio and his follower and the struggle between the two factions looks imminent, but Othello says calmly to put down the swords.
Act I 3rd scene
During the war meeting where duke and senators are planning the defense of Cyprus by Turks, Othello, Brabantio, Cassio, Iago and Roderigo come to the court, interrupting the reunion. Brabantio brings Othello to the highest political authority in order to solve the dispute.
Brabantio accuses Othello of stealing his daughter using spells and magic and marry her (foreigners were used to be seen as magician). Stealing has a double meaning. Marrying her Othello has robbed the city.
my daughter[…] she is abused (psychological and physical)
stolen and corrupted by spells and medicines.
(Foreigners and especially black people were usually accused of making spells and magic.)
Also Othello married Desdemona with a very uncommon way called marriage per verba de presenti with just one testimony, so there's no need to consummate the marriage.
The Duke (or the Doge) becomes more skeptical, giving the chance to justify himself. Othello admits that he married Desdemona, but denies having used magic, adding it was Brabantio’s choice to invite at his home, asking to count his adventurous life, during those days Desdemona fell in love with the general. For this reason Othello ask Desdemona to support his story.
Desdemona enters in the court, and Brabantio asks her to tell those present to whom she owes the most obedience. Brabantio clearly expects her to say her father. Desdemona, however, like all female characters created by Shakespeare are bold and courageous (remember: women were not allowed to talk in court!).
“I am your daughter, and this is my husband”
Desdemona oversteps the boundaries, acknowledging everyone that she married Othello of her own free will and that, like her own mother before her, she must shift her primary loyalty from father to husband.
Brabantio reluctantly resigns himself to her decision and allows the court to return to state affairs.
“God be with you…”
“I’m not having so”
Othello thinks Desdemona will be the key to reach highest role of Venetian society. But that’s false. Because Desdemona, as Othello’s wife, is no longer part of Venetian society. Marrying Othello, Desdemona becomes Othello's property and therefore a foreigner. Foreigners have no rights, no house, different legislation. Despite this, Desdemona (and in a very interesting way and not always as we saw before also Iago) she’s the one that doesn’t categorize Othello through color of his skin, but underlines his qualities, his mind, his attitude. She articulates a transition to aesthetics to ethical beauty and she doesn’t stop here. She also accepted Othello body at the close of trial scene. So, subvert the typical beauty including the beauty.
So, what’s the role of the duke? It seems very skeptical and also according to the law, he can’t stand for anyone.
if virtue no delighted beauty lack,
Your son-in-law is far more fair than black
The Duke’s denying his blackness. In this case black is seen as a motif of savageness, lack of reason. Othello is not any of those.
Furthermore, Othello has role in fundamental for the victory of venetian army. So, Brabantio can’t do anything about it. He basically lost her daughter
God be wi' you! I have done.
Please it your grace, on to the state-affairs:
I had rather to adopt a child than get it.
Come hither, Moor:
I here do give thee that with all my heart
Which, but thou hast already, with all my heart
I would keep from thee. For your sake, jewel,
I am glad at soul I have no other child:
For thy escape would teach me tyranny,
To hang clogs on them. I have done, my lord.
(Brabantio's reaction)
The "trial" is concluded, so they switch to the state affairs. The duke orders Othello to go to Cyprus in order so that he defends the island from Turks. Othello asked for an appropriated lodging for his wife. The duke suggests she stay with her father but neither Desdemona, nor Brabantio, nor Othello, will accept this, and Desdemona ask the permission to go with Othello. In addition, we have to remember she’s no longer part of Brabantio’s family.
Stage clear
Iago proclaims the hatred against Othello: He must follow him to Cyprus and added a suspicion that Othello has slept with his wife Emilia.
Thus do I ever make my fool my purse:
For I mine own gain'd knowledge should profane,
If I would time expend with such a snipe.
But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor:
And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets
He has done my office: I know not if't be true;
But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
Will do as if for surety. He holds me well;
The better shall my purpose work on him.
Cassio's a proper man: let me see now:
To get his place and to plume up my will
In double knavery--How, how? Let's see:--
After some time, to abuse Othello's ear
That he is too familiar with his wife.
He hath a person and a smooth dispose
To be suspected, framed to make women false.
The Moor is of a free and open nature,
That thinks men honest that but seem to be so,
And will as tenderly be led by the nose
As asses are.
I have't. It is engender'd. Hell and night
Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light.
In his devilish attitude Iago lays out his plan to cheat Roderigo out of his money, convinces Othello that Cassio has slept with Desdemona, and to use Othello’s honest and unsuspecting nature to bring him to his demise.
Iago reveals the split of personality. He hates Othello, due to the fact he promoted Cassio and not him (then he suspects Emilia had sexual relationship with Othello).
Iago projects his feels and doubts on Othello. Iago takes out moor’s fears, trying not to pay attention on his OWN doubts. Iago will use Cassio (the one who received the promotion) and abusing Othello’s hear. Talking to him
Mind of Iago is lucid, he knows what to do. His interior monologue weighting pros and cons.
Engender->The plan will have shape thanks his mind.
From this moment we know how he’ll act.
Iago goes against any conception of virtue, we have a confession on human will, freedom of choice.
We must follow ourselves, not virtues. Something that goes against the way of thinking of his times.
But who’s Iago? We don’t know.
It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission of
the will. Come, be a man. Drown thyself! drown
cats and blind puppies. I have professed me thy
friend and I confess me knit to thy deserving with
cables of perdurable toughness; I could never
better stead thee than now. Put money in thy
purse; follow thou the wars; defeat thy favour with
an usurped beard; I say, put money in thy purse. It
cannot be that Desdemona should long continue her
love to the Moor,-- put money in thy purse,--nor he
his to her: it was a violent commencement, and thou
shalt see an answerable sequestration:--put but
money in thy purse. These Moors are changeable in
their wills: fill thy purse with money:--the food
that to him now is as luscious as locusts, shall be
to him shortly as bitter as coloquintida. She must
change for youth: when she is sated with his body,
she will find the error of her choice: she must
have change, she must: therefore put money in thy
purse. If thou wilt needs damn thyself, do it a
more delicate way than drowning. Make all the money
thou canst: if sanctimony and a frail vow betwixt
an erring barbarian and a supersubtle Venetian not
too hard for my wits and all the tribe of hell, thou
shalt enjoy her; therefore make money. A pox of
drowning thyself! it is clean out of the way: seek
thou rather to be hanged in compassing thy joy than
to be drowned and go without her.
All images are labelled to be reused.
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