1. SETTING Venice 1. Sophisticated 2. Wealthy, port, hub of the Mediterranean 3. Morally loose 4. City state – Duke the leader, Senators make up council 5. Defence – mercenaries

2. THEMES Appearance and Reality 1. Iago appears loyal and trustworthy (I am not what I am) 2. The use of law appears to operate 3. Desdemona appears to be a “fragile Venetian daughter” DESCRIBE HOW APPEARANCE AND REALITY IS PRESENTED IN THE FIRST ACT OF OTHELLO. HOW IS THE REALITY DIFFERENT FROM THE APPEARANCE

3. THEMES Racism 1.Brabantio: Believes the attraction of Desdemona and Othello is unnatural (Witchcraft). 2.Roderigo speaks of “thick lips” 3.Iago – goats / barbary horse. 4.The Duke is prepared to accept Othello “Your son-in-law is far more fair than black. WHICH CHARACTERS IN THE FIRST ACT ATTACK OTHELLO IN TERMS OF RACE? WHAT GIVES RISE TO THEIR REACISM AND HOW DO THEY EXPRESS IT?

4. THEMES Jealousy 1.Iago is jealous because Cassio has been promoted to lieutenant. Suspects Othello of having an affair with his wife. This jealousy leads to hatred of Othello. 2. Roderigo is jealous of Othello having “won” Desdemona. WHICH CHARACTERS IN THE FIRST ACT SHOW SIGNS OF JEALOUSY.? WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THEIR JEALOUSY? WHICH CHARACTERS DO NOT HOW SIGNS OF JEALOUSY?

5. THEMES Servant and Master 1.Loyal servant – Cassio. Serves Othello well. 2. Disloyal servant – Iago. Serves only to gain for himself. 3. Service of daughter to father / husband (Desdemona) 4. Blind service – Roderigo to Iago. 5. Othello’s service to the State (Venice) RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PLAY IAGO SPEAKS OF TWO KINDS OF SERVANTS. CONSIDER THE CHARACTERS IN THE FIRST ACT AND SAY WHICH KIND OF SERVANT THEY REPRESENT AND WHY.

6. THEMES Court Case 1.Desdemona on trial – for her marriage to Othello. Being tried by the Duke and her father. 2.Othello on trial – for the charge of witchcraft. Enchanting Desdemona. IS JUSTICE SERVED IN THE TRIAL IN THE FIRST ACT OF OTHELLO?

7. THEMES Tragic hero 1.Othello is a tragedy 2.Ingredients of a tragedy: Tragic hero = Othello Tragic hero is noble and good in the beginning. ( Othello is presented like this in Act 1) Tragic hero has a fatal flaw which brings about his destruction and the destruction of those around him. Not seen yet in Act 1 Villain which brings about the downfall. (Iago) The world begins in a balanced way, but the natural order of things is disrupted – Desdemona overturning her father’s rule/ Turks attacking Cyprus. WE ALREADY SEE THE ELEMENTS OF A TRAGEDY IN ACT I OF OTHELLO. DISCUSS THESE ELEMENTS.

8. THEMES Deception 1.Iago is deceitful to Othello – lies, is a false servant. ‘I serve him but to serve myself”. 2.Iago is deceitful to Roderigo – says he is his friend, but he is merely using him. 3.Desdemona deceives her father. 4.The first seeds of Desdemona as being deceitful are planted by Brabantio ( Look to her Moor, if thou hast eyes to see, she deceived her father and may thee.) 5.Brabantio feels deceived by the justice of the Duke. THE THEME OF DECEPTION RUNS THROUGH THE FIRST ACT. DISCUSS HOW IT IS PRESENTED.

9. THEMES Reputation 1.Othello has the reputation of being valiant, a good general. 2.Brabantio (magnifico) has the reputation of a noble senator. 3.Cassio has the reputation of being a ladies man. 4.Iago has the reputation of being honest.

10. CHARACTERS Othello, Iago, Cassio CHARACTERPOSITIONCHARACTERISTICS OthelloTragic hero, General (Mercenary), outsider, Turk (Moor) Dignified, strategist in battle, valiant, great soldier, royal birth, leader of men, respected by Venetians. IagoAntagonist (villain), Othello’s ensign (ancient) Liar, deceitful, hypocrite, manipulative, cunning, optimist, greedy, perverted, selfish, proud, soldier, vengeful, paranoid, master of language, CassioThe foil to the tragic hero (good character), friend and lieutenant of Othello, outsider Charming, ladies’ man, Florentine, arithmetician, courteous.

11. CHARACTERS Othello, Iago, Cassio CHARACTERPOSITIONCHARACTERISTICS DesdemonaDaughter of Brabantio/ Wife of Othello Noble woman, educated, wealthy, young, courageous, moved by adventure and bravery, wished she could be a man like Othello, sacrificing (gave up her fortune to be with Othello) RoderigoIago’s fool, Venetian (curly head) Emotional, erratic, infatuated, weak willed, impressionable, foolish, gullible, BrabantioSenator, father of Desdemona Respected, elder of Venice, protective patriarch, racist,

12. CHARACTERS Othello, Iago, Cassio CHARACTERPOSITIONCHARACTERISTICS DukeLeader of the Senate and Venice Pragmatist, politician, reasonable (Is he just?)