Othello
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Stuart cutting
Othello
Act 1 Scene 1 Effective Opening to Othello
The play begins in a dark street in Venice and the audience is thrown into a heated debate between Iago, a soldier and Roderigo, a wealthy Venetian. Roderigo is rejecting, Tush, Never tell me, what Iago has just said and is angry as Iago has not informed him that Desdemona has eloped with Othello, a black general hired by the city of Venice to protect it from the Turks. Iago has been apparently helping Roderigo win Desdemonas, daughter of the rich merchant Brabantio, heart, in return for money Iago, who hast had my purse As if the strings were thine. The audience is already taken by surprise as Othello, the protagonist who they are expecting to see is not on stage. This dramatic device used by Shakespeare shocks the audience, creating intrigue to see when he will appear. Further tension is created, in just the first few lines, by opening the scene with interrupted discourse. The audience wants to know what has happened to cause such an argument and as it seems to be a question of money and love; suspense increases.
Roderigo continues with Thou toldst me thou didst hold him in thy hate, aggressiveness is represented in this line with the onomatopoeic repetition of dst which creates a spitting sound when spoken. The first signs of Iagos deceiving character are shown here as he has already stated he hates Othello and though there is no apparent reason to not believe Iagos claims he knew nothing of the love, secrecy (with no introduction of Othello yet) shadows the situation. Iagos confident character is displayed when saying Despise me if I do not, not caring what Roderigo thinks of him and at the same time trying to persuade Roderigo he knew nothing of the matter. I know my price, I am worth no worse a place slows the speech down with caesura and dramatic punctuation. The use if I shoes Iagos self-involvement as he deems himself better than where he presently is, introducing the theme of reputation and how valued it was. He continues and summarizes what has previously happened, that Cassio was appointed as Othellos lieutenant, not he. Accusing Othello
of being proud and boastful by explaining to Iago in bombast circumstances (wordy indirectness) and epithets of war (military jargon) why he was not made lieutenant make Othello out to be patronizing. That Cassio is one who can only count, arithmetician and knows nothing of military practice as he was taught in bookish theory infuriates Iago as he was the one who fought with Othello, seen the proof At Rhodes. Your worth as a person accumulates, according to Iago, from what you have experienced, he can not see why someone without any physical practice would be any good. Reputation and self-value are also implied by Iago thinking he has proved his worth and not been acknowledged, causing the audience to sympathise
with his frustration. Iago speaks in blank verse in iambic pentameter, Despise me if I do not. Three great ones of the city. Shakespeare often uses this strict rhythm in important speeches to involve the audience in
what is being said by identifying with the oral sequence of the character. Iagos uninterrupted speech fills in the background so the audience knows some details to fully understand the plot, a hang over of the Greek tragic chorus, who would sing to inform spectators. Also, this speech introduces the questionable protagonist, Othello, indirectly. Sympathising with Iago and later with Desdemonas father, the audience could be quite resentful towards him and Shakespeare reinforces that by calling Othello his Moorship. Throughout the speech, Othello is not spoken of by his real name, denying him of some status and humanity, instead his Moorship or the Moor are used. His and the create derogatory indifference to who he is, and
Moor describes African tribe races who would be dark skinned, its reference to the theme of appearance and reality would make the Jacobean audience very suspicious as who would be acting Othellos coloured role.
Iago sustains his presence on set with another speech as Roderigo prompts him. Shakespeare now properly introduces the audience to Iagos manipulative fashion. Iagos O! Sir to Roderigo turns the roles around, making Roderigo feel superior and more inclined to follow Iago as he is so flattered by the unusual way in which he is being spoken to. However, Iago is in control. Shakespeare plays to his audience, who would be mainly servants, through Iago stressing he only follows Othello, his master, to serve my turn upon him. Mystery surrounds this turn and keeps the audience interested, as it is a lead to Othellos end. Iagos villainous character is shown by the influence of people who have lind their coats through using other people, these people should do themselves homage as Iago believes them to be more dignified and have real soul because they can feign loyalty, visages of duty. His arrogant self-regard is shown, as he
believes to be one himself such a one I profess myself. It shows he is a self-serving deceiver, following Othello for his own advantage and revenge for all the wrong he has suffered, not material reward. Forswearing virtues like love and duty, he proves to be the villain. To harm Othello it will be necessary for Iago to pretend fidelity to him, just as he is here, friendship, to Roderigo. The metaphoric image
of him wearing his heart on his sleeve, where his feeling are plain
to see is dramatic irony used, as the audience, by now, know he is superficial and playing a role. Add the crucial quotation I am not what I am, the epitaph of the play, Iago has made it clear he is pure deception and hides behind an image of his on creation. The caesura before it indicates to an important relevation and the repetition of I enforces Iagos self centeredness but also his split personality to the audience. Following this relevation of malice, Shakespeare enforces it by Roderigo calling Othello the thick lips. This racist insult is proof of the hatred for Othello and a punch line to Iagos I am not what I am, as in Jacobean times, Negroes were associated with evil and would have been the stereotypical villains, but appearances deceive.
The pair then find themselves