Examine Shakespeare’s presentation of Iago in act 1 and how this prepares the audience for his role in the rest of the play.

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Examine Shakespeare’s presentation of Iago in act 1 and how this prepares the audience for his role in the rest of the play.

Act I in Othello is crucial to the rest of the play. It sets out all of the themes that run through out the play as well as the characters and the way in which the play is written.

All of the characters are introduced one by one with Iago dominating the play. He tells us what is going on and tells us what he is going to do. The themes of the play are trust: this is the trust between Othello and Iago, Cassio and Othello, Cassio and Iago and Othello and Desdamona. Sex is another theme, race, power and class also play big roles through out the first act.

In act 1 Iago is present when he and Roderigo are standing in a street in Venice. Iago speaks of how he hates Cassio and Othello. The plot then leads on to when they awaken Brabantio but they do it in completely different ways, Roderigo loudly say

“ What ho! Brabantio! Signor Brabantio, ho!” (act 1 sc 1)

Where as Iago shouts to him saying,

“ Awake! What ho, Brabantio! Thieves! Thieves! Look to your house, your daughter, and your bags! Thieves! Thieves! “ (act 1 sc1)

By contrast Iago’s way of awakening Brabantio is much more efficient as it was shouted and contain some words which would wake up any body, these words were thieves. Iago also says about Brabantio's daughter giving the impression that something has happened to her and he knows what but will not say. Iago has control over the amount of information his is able to give and so has control over Brabantio. Iago also says “ an old black ram is tupping your white ewe” This would have shocked Brabantio as it gives the impression that his daughter is having sex with a black man, a moor, Othello. The language that he has used is very rude and intrusive especially since Iago is talking to some one of a much higher class than himself and so should never had even of thought of saying such things. Iago creates disorder, this is how he can control events and how he does so through out the play and so this very first scene already tells us how Iago controls events. Disorder is his ally and he uses it with precision.

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Iago then says he must go before Brabantio before he sees who he is. Iago leaves as Brabantio comes down to Roderigo and tells him to show them where his daughter is. Iago stands with Othello with his sward poised ready for action, Iago has now completely changed his language and the way he acts, he has now got much more respect for Othello and this is reflected in his language and actions. In the previous scene we were hearing how much Iago hates Othello because he gave the job of lieutenant to Cassio and not him, could this ...

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