Othello: Act I Graphic Organiser: Key Quotes and Questions
Scene I: Examine Iago’s manipulation of the events in this scene and Brabantio’s
reaction to the visitors Iago and Roderigo and to the news of his daughter’s marriage.
Key questions:
1. What is Barbantio’s position in Venetian society?
2. What does his reaction to his daughter’s marriage to Othello tell us about his view
of Othello, his relationship with his daughter and his expectations of her?
3. What does Iago do to manipulate the situation to his own advantage?
Quote (lines)
Spoken by—, to— Meaning & notes
I follow him to serve my turn upon him.
We cannot all be masters, nor all masters
Cannot truly be followed…
… I am not what I am. (42-44…66)
Your heart is burst; you have lost half your soul;
Even now, now, very now, an old black ram
Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise; (88-90)
But thou needs be sure
My spirit and my place have in them power
To make this bitter to thee. (102-4)
Quote (lines)
Scene II: Compare Brabantio’s tone in this scene to Othello’s. Look for clues about
the characters’ attitudes about power, race and gender.
Key Questions:
1. What does this scene tell us about Othello—in the way he is treated and in the
way he reacts?
2. What can we say about Iago’s view of women and marriage?
3. What does Brabantio think of Desdemona and her place in society?
Spoken by—, to— Meaning & notes
Let him do his spite;
My services which I have done the signatory
Shall out-tongue his complaints…
My parts, my title, and my perfect soul
Shall manifest me rightly. (18-19…31-32)
… he tonight has boarded a land carrack (50)
Keep your bright swords up, for the dew will
rust them.
Good signior, you shall command more with
years
Than with your weapons (59-61)
If she in chains of magic were not bound,
Whether a maid so tender, fair, and happy,
So opposite to marriage that she shunned
The wealthy curled darlings of our nation,
Would ever have, t’incur a general mock,
Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom
Of such a thing as thou (65-71)
Scene III: Consider the political structure of Venice as portrayed in this scene. Analyse
the description of Desdemona and Othello’s courtship.
Key Questions:
1. Who seems to get respect from the Venetian government and why?
2. What do the newlyweds seem to love about each other? How does this reflect
their perceived/social identities?
3. What is Iago plotting and what does he think of those around him?
Quote (lines)
Spoken by—, to— Meaning & notes
Rude am I in speech (81-87)
And little blessed with the soft phrase of peace,
For since these arms of mine had seven years’ pith
Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used
Their dearest action in the tented field;
And little of this great world can I speak
More than pertains to feats of broil and battle;
It was my hint to speak—such was the process:
And of the cannibals that each other eat,
The Anthropophagi, and men whose heads
Do grow beneath their shoulders. This to hear
Would Desdemona seriously incline;
But still the house affairs would draw her thence
Which ever as she could with haste dispatch
She’d come again, and with greedy ear
Devour up my discourse; (141-149)
She loved me for the dangers I had passed,
And I loved her that she did pity them. (166-167)
You are lord of all my duty;
I am hitherto your daughter. But here’s my
husband;
And so much duty as my mother showed
To you, preferring you before her father,
So much I challenge that I may profess
Due to the Moor my lord. (182-187)
Come now, be a man. Drown thyself? Drown
cats and blind puppies…Follow thou these wars;
defeat favour with a usurped beard. I say, put
money in thy purse. It cannot be that Desdemona
should long continue her love to the Moor… nor
he his to her… These Moors are changeable in
their wills—fill thy purse with money. (326-336)
Cassio’s a proper man: let me see now;
To get his place and plume up my will
In double knavery. How? How? Let’s see.
After some time, to abuse Othello’s ear
That he is too familiar with his wife; (374-378)
The Moor is of a free and open nature,
That thinks men honest that but seem to be so,
And will as tenderly be led by the nose
As asses are. (381-384)