Act 1 scene 3

Brabantio&Desdemona

http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/media/sip/illustrations/Cowden-Clarke2/Oth/CCOth1-31880Ias.jpg

The scene starts with senators meeting about imminent Turkish invasion of Cyprus, and suddenly a sailor comes and tells them that the Turks seems gathered a strong fleet and on the way to Cyprus. That makes them so nervous. All of the sudden the meeting is interrupted by the arrival of Brabantio, Othello, Iago and Roderigo. Brabantio announced that Othello has used drugs and magic to enchant his daughter and to marry her. The Duke asks Othello to make an explanation to all of this. Othello claims that he didn’t use any tricks to obtain the love from Desdemona but his charmness and fascinating experience, he also requests to bring Desdemona to the court thus every accusation against him will have an answer.The duke is persuaded by that and denied Brabantio’s accusation. Though Brabantio is a bit depress with that but he finally decides to accept.

In the end, the duke request Othello to go to Cyprus to defend the island from the Turk invasion.  Desdemona decides to go with his husband and Othello ask Iago to escort her.

Personal Reactions

Desdemona performed a female with independent thinking and has a little bit of romantic idea because anyways, married with a person just because of few is a very naive act. But from she dare to break with her father we can see her strongly willing to liberty. Iago continually to play a role of evil man, not only to Othello but at the same time he also wants to frame Roderigo, we can see that from his speak to himself at the end of the scene. And Rodrigo, a man who is led by his anger and impulse，decieds to gather as much money as he can from the confused about Iago as a sign of his blind trust. However, we can also find some good quality from him, such as persistence，evenhis love is unable to convey he’s still working for this.

To Othello and Desdemona, they love each other, and they dare to break the heavy bondage of feudal society, so obviously they cherish that love which won hard.

Question

What is going to happen on Roderigo?

His blind faith doomed that he will not have a good ending， especially when the guy he trusts is Iago - the evilest character in this play. From Iago's words, I think he probably will be used by Iago and will take all the property away by Iago.

Activity 1.3.1-342  

Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see.

She has deceived her father, and may thee. (1.3.333-334)

I saw Othello's visage in his mind,

And to his honor and his valiant parts  (1.3.287-288）

There is a comparison of the ways to view. When Brabantio saying “Look at her,” what he means is“see what has she done, how dare she not to obey her father?”, Though this is Desdemona’s personal pursuit, he doesn’t equally treat his daughter. But when Desdemona mentions “saw,” she is looking at Othello without any prejudice, she ignored his skin color and race but purely treat Othello on an equal footing. So in conclusion,  Shakespeare uses this symbol to distinguish two groups of people, people who care about Othello’s race and people who don't.

Activity 1.3.343-447

Quotes:

“I have professed me thy friend, and I confess me knit to thy deserving with cables of perdurable toughness. I could never better stead thee than now” (1.3.379-80)  

• Iago is trying to tell Roderigo that he shouldn’t drown himself. Instead, Iago emphasizes the friendship Roderigo has with him, and that he will help guide Roderigo through this.  
• Metaphor
• This quote demonstrates irony and the theme of deceit as Iago talks to Roderigo about the strength of their friendship and how Iago would be able to guide and help Roderigo. However, this is ironic and shows Iago’s deception and manipulation of Roderigo as Iago really just wants to use Roderigo as a means of achieving his own wants.

“But we have reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal stings, [our] unbitted lusts - whereof I take this that you call love to be a sect, or scion” (1.3.372-75)

• Iago tells Roderigo that Roderigo should not stick to his obsession over Desdemona and disregards “love.”
• Metaphor
• It reveals Iago’s character as an apathetic, cold-blooded man.  His obsession with power (wealth and the position of lieutenant) makes him unable to appreciate human emotions such as love.

The food that to him now is as luscious as locusts shall be to him shortly as bitter as coloquintida.(1.3.391-392)

• Iago says that Desdemona would divorce with Othello shortly because of his age.
• Metaphor
• This quote reflects Iago’s evil identity, which is he does not believe that trust can exist for a long time just as how he treat other people.