says sarcastically “Forsooth, a great arithmetician.” Iago also has an extremely
high opinion of himself and is very proud. “I know my price. I am worth no worse a
place.” The audience can see that he is full of bitterness, resentment and hatred
and that he intends to get his revenge. “I follow him to serve my turn upon him.” He
then gives us one of many soliloquies where he reveals his inner thoughts, stating
that there are two types of servants, honest ones and ones who are out to benefit
themselves, himself being the latter. “When they have lined their coats do
themselves homage. These fellows have some soul.” “And such a one do I profess
myself.” By saying this he is warning us of his deadly potential.
Throughout the whole of this scene Iago has complete control over the situation.
He manipulates people so that events go his way. When ordering Roderigo about he
uses strong, powerful commands such as “Rouse him,” “Poison his delight,” “Plague
him.” This speech is quicker, more urgent than the more rhythmic way Iago has
previously spoken in. The succession of short, jerky phrases make the audience sit
on the edge of their seats in anticipation. Iago seemingly relishes in the drama and
the distress of others, making him seem even more evil to the audience. When
rousing Brabantio he goes about it in the least sensitive way you possibly could and
uses the foulest language. We see his views on women as sexual objects “tupping
your white ewe.” The language he uses and the crude references he makes about
sex “your daughter and the Moor are making the beast with two backs” only
reinforces the audiences opinion of Iago and his potential.
The use of animal imagery in the first scene is very effective and is a technique
Shakespeare uses several times in order to further alarm the audience. Iago tends
to see human activity in animal terms. He is clever to use such simple words to
create a dramatic impact on the emotions of a father towards a daughter in
danger. Furthermore, by saying “you’ll have your daughter covered with a Barbary
horse; you’ll have your nephews neigh to you…” he gets exactly the reaction he was
hoping for out of Brabantio, who prepares to go and attack Othello with his
soldiers. To conclude, Iago is very shrewd and devil-like.
Another way in which Shakespeare creates dramatic tension is the portrayal of
Othello (who is the hero of the play so the audience already knows he plays an
important part in the story.) However, we only know about him what we are told by
Iago, Roderigo and Brabantio, neither of who’s opinion of him are favourable. To
begin with, no-one ever uses his name, instead referring to him using “he” “him” and
“the Moor.” Iago makes Brabantio imagine a barbarous and threatening Moor,
whose sexual appetite has turned him into a thief and a rapist. Knowing nothing of
Othello, one would expect that the audience, too, would be seduced by Iago’s
portrait of Othello but we are not. We know that he is black by the several
references made about him by Iago. “Thick lips” “lascivious Moor” “an old black
ram.” His foreigness is also made an issue of as he is frequently referred to as “the
Moor.” He is described as being pompous “loving his own pride and purposes” and at
one point Iago even describes him as “the devil” which is ironic as the character
most like the devil we have met so far is him. However it is not just Iago that seems
to immensely dislike Othello. When Roderigo is explaining to Brabantio about the
elopement he uses repetition of the word “gross” and also describes him as “an
extravagant and wheeling stranger.” There is a great deal of mystery and
anticipation surrounding Othello and Brabantio seems to think he may be involved in
some kind of black magic “Is there not charms by which of youth and maidhood may
be abused?” but this is probably just him clutching at straws, in denial of his
daughters betrayal. Despite none of these three characters having a good word to
say about him between them somehow the audience is aware this information is not
accurate and so heightens our eagerness to judge for ourselves.
Yet another way Shakespeare cleverly builds up the suspense is by making it so
that the audience begins to try and guess and anticipate how the plot is going to go.
The whole of the first scene is about Othello and Desdemona’s elopement, and the
chaos that this news brings. As yet, however, we have not met either of these
people who have caused so much havoc. They are a mystery to us and we only know
what we have been told. The audience is extremely eager to see for themselves the
infamous couple and there are several questions that arise. Did Othello force
Desdemona into marriage or are they truly in love? Brabantio seems to think
Othello somehow used witchcraft to steal Desdemona- is there any truth in this?
Also we have witnessed Brabantio’s reaction to the elopement. Whereas at first he
refused to believe it, when he saw Desdemona had gone he was torn between anger
at his daughter for betraying and making a mockery of him and anger at Othello
for stealing her. He then proceeds to get together a small army to go looking for
them- “And raise some special officers of the night” This is very dramatic and
raises yet more unanswered questions about the scenes to come. We know that
Brabantio is getting an army together but if Othello doesn’t, what will happen?
How will Othello react? Will there be a fight? It is only the first scene and already
Iago has caused so much trouble. We now that he is out for revenge “I follow him
to serve my turn upon him” and we are beginning to wonder where Iago’s
capabilities end. He is clearly driven and motivated and the suspense of not
knowing what is around the corner increases the dramatic tension.
By the end of the first scene the main themes of the play are revealed, and we can
see that these themes will continue throughout the play. Jealousy is an important
aspect of the plot- Iago’s jealousy of Cassio, Roderigo’s jealousy of Othello etc.
Practically everybody in this play has a bit of the green-eyed monster in them.
Appearance and reality is the other strong theme. In his own words Iago admits “I
am not what I am.” Although we haven’t yet got there, another example of things
not being what they seem is when Othello convinces himself Desdemona is having an
affair- when of course she is not. In conclusion, this scene is very effective in
drawing the audience in. It begins strongly and is full of action, excitement and
drama, leaving the audience thirsty for more.
