Act 1 Scene 1 Summary & Notes

Quick info of characters:
Othello: A successful black officer working at a white city-country- Venice
Iago: A soldier under Othello
Roderigo: A rich, idiotic nobleman who admires Desdemona, befriended by Iago after being told about the relationship between Othello & Desdemona.
Cassio: Othello’s second-in command of which was chosen over Iago. Well-read nobleman but has never fought in a battle.

Summary:
- Iago is jealous over Cassio’s place, hatred arises
- Roderigo & Iago become friends and plot against the strong minded Othello
- We also learn that the system used in Venice is rather corrupted, it is all about favouritism.

In lesson, we have mainly focused on the speeches of Iago and how through his expressions, have effect on audience to the not yet introduced characters of the play; he mainly gives a subjective perception to the story so far, especially his feelings towards Othello. Through this act, we can build a notion of what Iago’s personality may be like.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shakespeare uses metaphors to show the authority in characters (such as from the first five lines of the first page, as printed below), in this segment of the document, there will be a brief analysis of specific parts in Act 1 Scene 1: *the combined coloured, bolded, enlarged words matches with the same coloured annotation under each selected section*

RODERIGO: Tush! never tell me; I take it much unkindly
That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse
As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this.

IAGO: 'Sblood, but you will not hear me:
If ever I did dream of such a matter, Abhor me.

RODERIGO: Thou told'st me thou didst hold him in thy hate.

IAGO: Despise me, if I do not. Three great ones of the city,

Strings may suggest many expressions in relation to Roderigo in his speech. The element is used as a link between the manipulator and the puppet; metaphorically Roderigo is pulling the strings, which implies authority to control. Strings can also be found in instruments, a tool used by musicians to write compositions with; this shows resemblance that Roderigo has influence on actions and can perhaps ‘compose’ the future ahead. From studying Greek mythology, Shakespeare may also be conveying the ideology of “the ‘strings’ of life”, meaning fate, in relation to Roderigo, he has power to change destiny and can be the controller.

Iago is accusing Roderigo for hatred, insisting that if he doesn’t believe him, he may certainly as well just hate him. In order to convince, Iago promise hatred. The powerful words used, engages the audience whilst setting a resentment atmosphere.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IAGO (Line 8- 23):
Despise me, if I do not. Three great ones of the city,
In personal suit to make me his lieutenant,
Off-capp'd to him: and, by the faith of man,
I know my price, I am worth no worse a place:
But he; as loving his own pride and purposes,

Gives impression that Othello is arrogant and to an extent, self centred. (line 12 in the book)

Evades them, with a bombast circumstance
Horribly stuff'd with epithets of war;
And, in conclusion,
Nonsuits my mediators; for, 'Certes,' says he,
'I have already chose my officer.'
And what was he?
Forsooth, a great arithmetician,
One Michael Cassio, a Florentine,
A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife;
That never set a squadron in the field,
Nor the division of a battle knows

Iago creates impression that Cassio is merely a great mathematician, and nothing more. How can he be second-in command if he still has not set a foot on the battlefield? Nor does he have knowledge of ‘division’ (strategically placing of soldiers), Cassion simply has no experience to relate to in his role.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Iago (line 41-66):
O, sir, content you;
I follow him to serve my turn upon him:
We cannot all be masters, nor all masters
Cannot be truly follow'd. You shall mark
Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave,

Under the construction of the corruptive system of Venice, everyone is believed to can only be, what they ought to be and that was it, e.g. if you was a servant, forever a servant you will be. Above all, not everyone has the talent to be a master. However, Iago has the idea that he was a special exception, that he was actually born to be a master, although obedient, but he will ultimately never commit ‘knee crooking knave’ (bowing down).

That, doting on his own obsequious bondage,
Wears out his time, much like his master's ass,
For nought but provender, and when he's old, cashier'd:
Whip me such honest knaves. Others there are
Who, trimm'd in forms and visages of duty,
Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves,
And, throwing but shows of service on their lords,
Do well thrive by them and when they have lined
their coats
Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul;
And such a one do I profess myself.
For, sir,
It is as sure as you are Roderigo,
Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago:
In following him, I follow but myself;

Iago is simply doing his job only for himself, even being under Othello, he still has his own set of absolute principles he follows. ‘Following’ Othello is only part of his plan to get his own desired agendas.

Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,
But seeming so, for my peculiar end:
For when my outward action doth demonstrate
The native act and figure of my heart
In compliment extern, 'tis not long after
But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve
For daws to peck at: I am not what I am.

Iago will show no emotions, unlike Othello; therefore no favouritism will be permitted. What he is actually implying is that he is a moron if he actually ‘wear my heart upon my sleeve’, suggesting it would be idiotic if he was to be emotionally honest. Like the ‘heart’, people should instead keep their emotions inside to themselves, where it is safe from the corruptive society we live upon.

Kayin

*To the next chosen blogger(s): if you’re planning to type the document on Microsoft Words beforehand, DO NOT use any arrows or text boxes or images, as the system used by Blogspot does not support those contents.*