From the first few lines that Iago speaks we can see that Iago is a bitter and angry man. His responses seem excessive and go too far. He is very unhappy about the job. He is like a psychopath. “I am not what I am” meaning that he is not what he appears to be. He manipulates and makes the people think that he is better than he seems to be. He hides things e.g. hiding things in shadows.
The audience’s impression of Iago develops through his interactions with Brabantio, as Brabantio seems calm and apologetic etc, where as Iago seems angry and stirs things up. He uses an animal image to talk about other people; this suggests that he does not have a very high view of humanity. He thinks he is above them. Failure of Shakespeare here taunting those he manipulates he is hateful and misanthropic- (Hater of mankind).
There is also a dramatic irony in this scene, because the audience here have a greater understanding than the characters, we as the audience know more than what the people on stage know.
The conversation between both Iago and Brabantio is hateful. Both characters even whilst considering their social position use vulgar language. Roderigo says “…. fair daughter…” here we are given the contrast of Desdemona’s description. There is articulate/structured speech related to Brabantio.
Roderigo in his speech says “…gross…” and also “ …I say again, hath made a gross revolt; Tying her duty, beauty, wit, and fortunes, In an extravagant and wheeling stranger…” The vocabulary here used for Othello and Desdemona blames Othello, the hate becomes more understanding.
Roderigo is quickly drawn into Iago’s plan.
Brabantio lacks knowledge of what is going on around him. We see that authority begins to crumble, we see that Iago has no respect to the figure of authority, here we get a good idea of his character, we realize that he is vindictive and persuasive.
Brabantio is heart broken, not just because his daughter has married Othello who is black, but the fact that his grandchildren will be of a mixed race, Brabantio sees his power crumbling. Brabantio is a political person and this has a great impact on his power reduction. Brabantio cannot do anything about Othello marrying his daughter Desdemona as he knows that Othello cannot be arrested as he is an important solider.
The initial ideas that we gain about Othello from the opening scene is that Iago hates Othello however knows that Othello is important. He is jealous of Othello because he is married to Desdemona, Iago is jealous of everyone.
