Othello Act 1 scene 3

“A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus”- Second Senator Wider conflict/wider war zone. Throughout Othello there is a parallel between wide and small scales in conflict. A domestic upset can still be unstable just like a wider conflict.
“Valiant Moor” Othello is described in a positive way. High morale stature.
“Rude am I in my speech and little bless’d with the soft phrase of peace”- Othello Othello is able to be composed in his mannerism. He is not denying what he hasdone. Controlled manner, represents him as the Tragic Hero. Othello admits that he didn’t have the same education but it shows that he is honest and that he has proven himself. His honest nature becomes a vulnerability that Iago is able to manipulate.
“To fall in love with”- Brabantio Sees his daughter, Desdemona, modest/virgin. Wealthy behaviour.
“Due to the Moor my lord”- Desdemona Refers to Othello as the “moor” highlights the love. Also shows that men control women.
“I had rather to adopt a child than get it”- Brabantio Brabantio in a sense disowns desdemona as he doesn’t want a child that will do what she is doing.
“That I did love the Moor to live with him, my downright violence and storm of fortunes”- Desdemona Not conventional of a woman at this time. Highlights that she is stubborn, violent and head strong. Link to context- Jacobean audience.
“Far more fair than black”- Duke Racist reference but stating that Othello is better than other black people.
“My life upon her faith!”- Othello Warning, her faith means infidelity. She is accused of cheating, foreshadows that this seed of doubt and suspicion will be planted in the mind of the Protagonist.
“I will incontinently drown myself”- Roderigo Love sick, chances of Desdemona being with him are zero. Iago replies to Roderigo in prose which connotes his devilish nature.
“It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission of the will”-Iago Stating that love isn’t a reality and it’s just lust, a desire to want as a concept and the feeling is not real.
“If thou canst cuckold him, thou dost thyself a pleasure, me a sport”-Iago If your wife has cheated on you, you were shamed for adultery. Iago see’s his actions as a sport/game. Tragic villain behaviour.
Iago’s Soliloquy …
“Thus do I ever make my fool my purse”- Iago Highlights his manipulative personality. Iago compares his “friend” Roderigo to an object only to pay him money as he continues to make false promises. Roderigo is considered Iago’s purse. This lays out his plans to deceive the other characters, putting himself in the role of “director”.
“I hate the Moor”- Iago Direct and powerful verb to open his argument, suggesting his simple motives will be concealed by complicated lies and evil plans- foreshadows us that he will openly destroy Othello and Desdemona’s relationship.
“And it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets. He’s done my office”- Iago Creating a rumour that Othello has slept with his wife, Emilia. Inner motive. The suspicion is enough for him to believe it.
“Cassio’s a proper man”- Iago Double meaning. Cassio’s a handsome man. Being both attractive in attributes as well as attractive for the target to Iago to base his plan upon.
“The Moor is of a free and open nature”- Iago The moor is open and straightforward and believes any man who seems honest is honest. People like this are easy to manipulate. He is ultimately trying to justify that Othello and Desdemona’s honest nature will lead them to their destruction. Iago derives his sense of self, his manhood, from his ability to manipulate others, rather than sexual pride. It suggests that Othello’s weakness is that he doesn’t understand that appearance cannot hide reality.
“Tenderly be led by the nose as asses are” Iago compares Othello to an animal, that will follow, wherever it is led, regardless, just like how Othello has trusted Iago even without fully knowing his manipulative personality.
“Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light” Iago personifies his plan as a birth that will take place as a result of his villainous intentions- Machiavellian taints evil things.
July 3, 2019