| Who is Othello? | -main character-Moor-General-married to Desdemona |
| Who is Desdemona? | -elite lady-daughter of Brabantio-married to Othello |
| Who is Iago? | -Othello’s servant-secretly hates Othello-not religious-tells Brabantio about Desdemona and Othello |
| Who is Roderigo? | -gullible-loves Desdemona-is tricked by Iago in the end of scene 3 to sell everything for lots of money-tells Brabantio about Desdemona and Othello |
| Who is Cassio? | -Othello’s second in command |
| Who is the Duke? | -sends Othello to Cyprus-helps Brabantio run “trial” against Othello |
| Who is Brabantio? | -senator-Desdemona’s father-believes Othello used magic on his daughter-runs “trial” against Othello |
| Where does the play take place? | -Venice, Cyprus 16th century |
| What happened in Act 1? | -Othello and Desdemona eloped-Iago and Roderigo told Brabantio about Othello and Desdemona-Brabantio has Desdemona testify about her love for Othello-Othello and Desdemona head to Cyprus-rumor that Othello slept with Iago’s wife-rumor that Othello picked Cassio as his lieutenant instead of Iago |
| Why does Iago hate Othello? | -due to the rumors that he either–slept with his wife–picked Cassio over him for lieutenant |
| How do Desdemona and Othello feel about each other? | -they love each other as seen in Act I Scene III where they both talk about how much they love each other |
| What is the Senate Scene all about? | -begins with the fact that the Turks are about to attack Cyprus-mostly Othello and Desdemona professing love in front of senate |
| Why does the play open with two people talking badly about Othello? | -to contrast when Othello actually enters-to show the reader the drama that is building |
| Why are neither Othello nor Desdemona mentioned by name in the opening scene? | -to add to the suspense-keep the reader interested |
| When and how do Othello’s and Desdemona’s names appear? | -when Othello enters |
| What warning does Brabantio give to Othello? | -Desdemona lied to me so she might lie to you |
| What sort of language does Iago use to tell Brabantio of his daughter’s elopement? | -animal references-figurative languages |
| What does Roderigo want from Iago? | -help in getting Desdemona to love him |
| What does Iago want from Roderigo? | -to embarrass Othello-money? |
Othello Act I Notes
August 3, 2019