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 be the motivation for why he is stirring up trouble for Othello or just justification for why he is doing it.
We do not see Othello in the first scene and so this builds up tension as he is the eponymous hero we don’t know what he looks likes.
Scene two reveals Othello and his power. Brabantio and his men find him and when they draw their swords Othello says,
“ Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them. “ (act 1 sc 2)
This one sentences shows the extreme power of Othello and the fearlessness he shows when faced with a mob with swords at the ready to run him through. Whilst this is going on Iago has taken Roderigo to the side, knowing that if he had left him he would have surely said something to discredit him.
In the first two scenes we have already seen how devious Iago is. The way he is manipulative and creates disorder to control events. He is in control and tells us what is going on, however he is second when it comes to importance in reality, Othello has the power over every one or so he thinks when actually it is Iago who is controlling the events and the speed at which they happen, Iago is the puppet master so to speak. The language he uses changes depending on whom he is addressing and who else is there. When talking to Brabantio he was using rude and very descriptive language but with Othello he was using respectful language as if he was talking to some one of great importance. When talking to Roderigo he uses the sort of language that some one would use if they were talking to a child, giving the idea that Roderigo is stupid and needs everything explained very carefully.
In scene three Iago does not play a very big part this is because it is to do with the plot of the play, the Turks are going to invade Cyprus. However Iago is not in this scene it is still an important one. This is where Brabantio asks the Duke of Venice what he thinks about the moor and his daughter. Othello explains to them both how he and Desdemona fell in love. This is one of Othello’s speeches. His speech to the council tells them that he was often invited by Brabantio to dinner and was always asked by Brabantio to tell him of his life’s story. He said that he would always agree and it was these past life events that were sometimes so unbelievable that attracted Desdemona to him. The Duke hears what Othello had said and reply with
“ I think this tale would win my daughter too.” (act 1 sc 3).
Brabantio asks for Desdemona to tell her side of the story and if what Othello has said is true he would leave them be. Desdemona to her farther disappointment told him that what Othello had said was true.
Once all of the business had been sorted out everyone except Iago and Roderigo left the room. Roderigo could not believe what Desdamona had just said and was very upset. Roderigo said he would kill himself, Iago quickly said that that would be a stupid idea. Iago told Roderigo that Desdamona is only with Othello because she lusts for him. Iago has now started to demonise love, suggesting that there is no love, only lust for sex. He has to persuade Roderigo not to kill himself and so uses a verbal battering ram. He says,
“ …..Put money in thy purse – follow thou the wars; defeat thy favor with usurped beard. I say put money in thy purse. It cannot be long that Desdamona should continue her love to the moor – put money in thy purse….” (act 1 sc 3)
This meaning that he should invest in himself and that whatever Roderigo does Iago has convinced him that it will help him to win Desdamona. This indeed does convince Roderigo and he leaves satisfied that he can win Desdamona.
Iago now has his first soliloquy, with no body else around him he can now speak his mind, but does he? We can never be sure that he is telling the truth, as it is one of mankind’s trates to lie to themselves to make things seem better than they actually are. His opening sentence shows what he thinks of Roderigo
“ Thus do I ever make my fool my purse “ (act 1 sc 3)
Roderigo is so insignificant to Iago that he does not even bother to mention his name. Instead is referred to as “ my fool ” and by what he has said it seems he is paying Iago for the help he is giving him to win Desdamona. Iago also says that he is doing it for sport, his entertainment and profit. He also says,
“Twixt my sheets he has done my office. I know if’t be true“(act 1 sc3)
This means that Iago thinks that Othello has slept with his wife but he is unsure. He goes on to say that he uses this as his justification. He carries on with his soliloquy and his plan is born.
“After some time to abuse Othello’s ear that he is too familiar with his wife” (act1b sc 3)
He is going to tell Othello that Cassio is too familiar with his wife, in other words that they have been having sex behind Othello’s back. He carries on to say that Othello is too open and trusting of his fellow man and so will be easy to manipulate. Iago’s plan has been formed.
Throughout the first act we have seen the different sides of Iago, how he acts when talking to Othello and how he changes the way he acts when he is talking to Roderigo. The attitudes that he has whilst with these two people are very dissimilar. The language he uses to address them is also different. For the whole play we know exactly what is going on and so we are anxious to help Othello and the other characters that are being manipulated by Iago. In effect Iago is the puppet master. To have this type of control he has to have or do something spectacular, Iago creates disorder, this is his ally and how he is able to control how events happen, when they happen and how fast they happen. It is only at the end when Iago looses control, his wife restores the order and Iago’s ally is eliminated leaving him alone with out any control over any one or any thing.
The first act prepares the audience brilliantly for the rest of the play, it gives us the chance to see how Iago acts, what he says to the things that he wants and it also tells us who to listen to when the story is being performed. Iago is the storyteller for the audience, he tells us what is happening by explaining what has happened and what is about to happen, the only reason why he is the storyteller is because he has control. Everything in this play comes back to Iago having control over all events and all characters. This is only because all of the characters trust him and think that he is their friend and is always honest. For example Othello often calls him “ Honest Iago “ nothing could be further from the truth. He is a manipulative person and is best described as being “ Devilish “. The first act also shows the audience the anxiety they will be feeling throughout the play, due to their inadequacy to help Othello and Desdamona to see what Iago is doing.
Past and present audiences may view this play in a completely different lights. Present audiences may not like it because it is against all political correctness with the use of racist and sexist language. However if the audience could appreciate the play for what it is and not for the language and attitudes in it then it could easily be enjoyed. The time when Shakespeare wrote this the whole play would have been completely acceptable, perhaps with a little objection to the sexually descriptive language that Iago often used.
In my own view I think that the first act is a brilliant piece of dramatic writing. It has some brilliant soliloquies and allows the audience to become involved in the play. Shakespeare presents Iago as a devilish villain. A Machiavellian villain willing to do any thing to get revenge on Othello for not giving him the job of lieutenant and he thinks that Othello has slept with his wife. However as the play progresses these may not be the only reasons. His gulling of the majority of the cast shows us the power he has over them and so prepares us for our own gulling at the end of the play where he is asked why he did it, and he replies,
“ Demand me nothing – what you know, you know – from this time forth, I never will speak word” (act 5 sc2)
Even at the end of the play when it seems that he has lost all of his power and the cast and the audience have been reinstated. He says this, once more allowing him to pick up the strings and become the puppet master again.