The opening of the play Othello begins with two men talking. Write about how this helps to convey dramatic tension and go to discuss the main themes of the play and Iagos character. You may consider, in comparison with the text, the opening of Ke

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English Coursework: Othello

The opening of the play ‘Othello’ begins with two men talking. Write about how this helps to convey dramatic tension and go to discuss the main themes of the play and Iago‘s character. You may consider, in comparison with the text, the opening of Kenneth Branagh’s film version, if you wish.

The opening of the play is set in a street in Venice, at night. The darkness introduces the idea of confusion.  Before the scene opens, Iago has been pretending to help a young gentleman, Roderigo, who has paid him to arrange a marriage with Desdemona, a young aristocrat. We learn about two actions of the general, Othello, who has appointed Michael Cassio, rather than Iago, as his lieutenant. Othello has also eloped with Desdemona.   These two actions are the cause of Iago’s later actions.

There is an atmosphere of bitterness.  The reason for this is that Roderigo has failed to win Desdemona and Iago has seen his hopes of promotion destroyed, resulting in his hatred of both Cassio and Othello.

The argument between Iago and Roderigo and the plans of Iago introduce a mood of conflict from the very beginning of the play. There is a feeling of uncertainty about the person they are talking about.  Othello is never referred to directly by name during the scene, just as ‘he’, ‘him’, ‘the Moor’.  This creates tension in the audience because the picture of him that is given is very one-sided and negative.  We don’t know what he is really like until he enters.  Roderigo doesn’t realise that Iago is taking advantage of him, this is ironic, as Iago admits he enjoys deceiving people.

The themes of the play are also of significant importance in the key to dramatic tension.  Jealousy, one of the themes, plays a part in the way that Othello is destroyed by his jealousy, but in this scene there are other examples. Iago is jealous of Cassio, who has been promoted over him.  Iago refers to Cassio scornfully, ‘Mere prattle without practice is all his soldiership’ (l.26-7). Roderigo is jealous of Othello for having married the woman he wanted.  Brabantio is jealous of Desdemona who has disobeyed him.

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Revenge is another theme.  Iago is determined to get revenge on Othello for not having promoted him, ‘I follow him to serve my turn upon him’ (l.42).  His first action is to inform Brabantio in a very crude way that Othello is involved with his daughter, Desdemona.  Later in the play Iago manipulates Othello, and causes him to take revenge on his wife and this brings about his downfall.

The play uses a lot of racism. It is uncertain, whether Othello was a Negro or an Arab, but in either case this is important for his position in ...

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