“If you omitted the scenes in Venice in Act 1 and began the play in Cyprus in Act 2 you would have a much better play”“Without Act 1 the audience would never understand the evil of Iago or the shaky foundations of the relationship between Othello and De
...wouldn’t be understood if Act 1 was not included for it is in Scene III where we see Roderigo appealing to Iago for help that we are made aware of Roderigo’s obsession with Desdemona and his part in Iasgo’s plot and how Iago is able to use him. The other main point that would be missed is an explanation of Desdemona and Othello’s relationship, this is central to the main plot as that audience need to be aware of how Othello is able to have such strong suspicions of his wife who he appears to love. The shaky foundations of the relationship make the rest of the play more credible. Othello denies having used magic to woo Desdemona , he explains that Brabantio frequently invited him to his house and questioned him about his remarkable life story, full of harrowing battles, travels outside the civilized world, and dramatic reversals of fortune. Desdemona overheard parts of the story and found a convenient time to ask Othello to retell it to her. Desdemona was moved to love Othello by his story. “She loved me for the dangers I have passed” Not only does he claim that Desdemona fell in love with him because of his story, he says that he fell in love with her because of her reaction to his story. Neither of them tell of anything other than Othello’s stories that brought them together and it is then easy tosee why their relationship might disintegrate with help from Iago. If Othello also reaslises this it could explain his extreme suspicions about the faithfulness of his wife. In Act 1 scene III Brabantio’s comment that Desdemona has betrayed himself and will therefore betray Othello is essential to theme of deceit that plays on Othello’s mind “She has deceived her father and may thee” Without this the audience wouldn’t’t understand extent of Othello’s suspicions. Moreover the First Act develops both characters plot, for example the two sides to Desdemona character are more prominent in this act than in the rest of the play. we are made aware of Othello’s elopement with Desdemona, Shakespeare’s audience would have considered elopement with a nobleman’s daughter to be a serious, possibly imprisonable offense, this adds drama to the first scene and also helps to portray Desdemona’s character. For it is clear that she is a strong- willed women who is determined to marry the man of her choice even if it does mean imprisonment for him. Desdemona herself appears remarkably forward and aggressive in Othello’s account, particularly in relation to Renaissance expectations of female behavior. She “devours up” his discourse with a “greedy ear,” and is the first of the two to hint at the possibility of their loving one another. This is a contrast to the other side of her apparent nature that is revealed to us through her father Brabantio who claims that she is quiet and biddable who would blush rather than look at a man.When Desdemona finally enters and speaks for herself, she does indeed seem outspoken and assertive, as well as generous and devoted. In her speech about her “divided duty” as a wife and a daughter, Desdemona shows herself to be intelligent, and able to weigh her competing loyalties respectfully. In arguing for her right to accompany Othello to Cyprus, she insists upon the “violence” and unconventionality of her attachment to Othello. In declaring “I did love the Moor to live with him,” she frankly insists on the sexual nature of her love In scene III Brabanzio asks Desdemona to tell those present to whom she owes the most obedience. He expects her to say her father. Desdemona, however, confirms that she married Othello of her own free will and that, like her own mother before her, she must shift her primary loyalty from father to husband. This is evidence of her strong nature and her confidence to stand up to her fathe even in front of the Duke. Desdemona also asks to be allowed to go with Othello to Cryprus. There is also the two sides of Othello nature that is revealed in Act 1. The audience is allowed the opinion of the characters before Othello enters and the action of the first scene heightens the audience’s anticipation of Othello’s first appearance. Othello is not once mentioned by his name, instead, he is referred to as “he” and “him.” He is also called “the Moor” , a name which tells us that he is dark-skinned. Iago plays on the senator’s fears, making him imagine a barbarous and threatening Moor, whose sexual appetite has turned him into a thief and a rapist. However the audience also see another side to Othello, the fact that Iago immediately paints himself as the villain also prepares us to be sympathetic to Othello. After having been prepared for a passionate and possibly violent character in Othello, the quiet calm of Othello’s character his dismissal of Roderigo’s alleged insult and his skillful avoidance of conflict is surprising. Also rather than presenting Othello as a savage barbarian, Shakespeare implicitly compares him to Christ. When Brabanzio and his men arrive with swords, Iago having told them where he’ll be, this vividly echoes John 18:1–11. In that Gospel, Christ and his followers are met by officers carrying swords. The officers were informed of Christ’s whereabouts by Judas the traitor. Othello averts the violence with a single sentence, “Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust ’em” as Christ commands Peter, “Put up thy sword into the sheath”. Also here Othello’s appears to have a sense of his own authority, whilst later in the play we are made aware of his insecurity and uncertainty leading to his suspicions, through this first act we are made aware of the two sides to Othello’s character. Even the Duke appears to trust Othello and respect him, for he is willing to agree with Brabantio about his claims that someone has stolen his daughter from him and must be punished until he learns that this man is Othello. The duke is initially eager to take Brabanzio’s side, but he becomes more skeptical when he learns that Othello is the man accused he is then later persuaded by Othello once he has heard his story The duke and other characters treat Othello as an essential part of the Venetian state. Only after greeting Othello and telling him how he is needed does the duke notice Brabanzio, and, even then, he acknowledges him in a rather demeaning ...