Answers (=

1. What effect has Shakespeare achieved by delaying the entry of Othello?
In Act 1, Scene 1, the play starts off by introducing Iago (I) and Roderigo ®. The two men are talking about Othello (O) who we later meet in scene 2. Throughout this conversation between the two men, Othello’s name isn’t actually mentioned. He is continually being referred to as “The Moor.” As seen in line 39, “… To love the Moor”. The reason why Shakespeare did this, was probably to engage the audience into the play with the questioning thought in their heads of who was “the Moor” that (I) and ® keep talking about. Further questions such as Why are (I) and ® talking about the “moor”? Is the “moor” important in this play? By not getting introduced to (O) but to (I) first, the audience will be already engaged in the ‘dramatic irony’ that is used throughout the play where the audience knows what (I) is up to, but (O) is clearly clueless. In this scene we also get to see the development of (I)’s character, as he is the main character in this play that stirs up all the commotion and drama to get his own way. His two-faced character can be seen when he is talking badly of (O) in front of ® but acts all loyal in front of (O) and ‘warns’ him about Brabantio (B).

2. How important is the information that Iago discloses to Roderigo?
The fact that (I) is telling ® how much he hates (O) is to try and get ® on his side. (I) talks about how he is only working for (O) for his own purpose and this is really what the play revolves around, (I) manipulating everyone. This can be shown in line 42, “I follow him to serve my turn upon him”. Line 66, where (I) says “I am not what I am” is important as throughout the play, (I) is very two-faced, and already in the first scene, he sets up (O) by telling (B) about (O)’s marriage, and then in the next scene (I) has gone to warn (O) about (B), this is to make himself seem loyal.

3. What does the language used by Iago in breaking the news of Desdemona’s elopement to Brabantio convey about Iago?
When breaking the news of Desdemona’s elopement to Brabantio, Iago speaks with great disgust and disrespect. ‘At this very minute an old black ram is having sex with your little white lamb.’We can clearly observe here that Iago feels Othello is too old and too black for our little white Desdemona. He also instils into Brabantio’s mind that it is not Desdemona that is at fault with this elopement. It is of course Othello who is at fault, as he has supposedly hypnotised her into this relationship with manipulation and black magic.

4. What does Brabantio mean by “Our house is not a grange”?

Venice is a haven of civilization and ordinary life. When Brabantio is told he has been robbed, he answers inconsistently; "What tell’st thou me of robbing? This is Venice; My house is not a grange." This not only shows that Venice is a quiet, civilized, uneventful place, but that its inhabitants (or at least Brabantios generation) believe it to be themselves. They live by a code of behavior and upbringing which views someone like Othello as barbarous, uncivilized, and almost amusing in a superior cultural kind of way. Every time a character calls Othello "the Moor" a sense of mockery and superiority is conveyed and all the other feelings of distance in Venetians.
The fact that Iago mentions Desdemona and Othello as a ram and ewe represents them as animals in a ranch. This is important to Brabantio’s statement because a grange is a residence in the country. This can refers to a farmhouse with animals. Brabantio says that his house is not a grange and therefore won’t accept Desdemona and Othellos relationship.

5. What reasons does Othello give for feeling he is worthy of Desdemona despite being an outsider?i) He explains to everyone at the meeting is that the only offense he has committed is taken Desdemona away from Brabantio (the father) and married her.(swanaa I took away the quote so just say read the quote on ur page)ii) He also tells of how the father admired him and regularly invited him to the house.“her father loved me, oft invited meStill questioned me the story of my life”What he tries to say in this is Brabantio is despising Othello now, but he doesn’t have any background reason though because before he discovered of this elopement he loved Othello and showed great admire towards the stories of his life.iii) He also informs us that he noticed Desdemona falling for him initially and the love developed from then. It was true love not forced.‘Took once a pliant hour and found good means to draw from her a prayer of earnest heart.’We can clearly not here the concept of how one evil deed ( Iago’s villainous act) can change a lifetime of good deeds ( the love Othello and Desdemona share).

6. How is meeting of the Duke and his council significant?
• Discussion of going to war takes place.
• Introduction of important characters.
eg. Desdemona as she enters the story by coming in to give verdict regarding the relationship between her and Othello. • We are informed of Othello’s status, braveness and the respect he receives in contrast to the scene before with Iago and Roderigo discussing Othello in a very despiteful and degrading manner. “Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you
Against the general enemy Ottoman.” We can clearly note here Shakespeare informs the audience of Othello’s status, and the great role he plays with the War within this quote.

7. Compare the Duke’s attitude to the marriage of Desdemona before and after he knows her husband is Othello.
When Brabantio comes in (in Act 1, Scene 3) he tells the duke that Desdemona has been taken away from him, bewitched and drugged, and has gone against her nature - he says "She is abused, stol'n from me, and corrupted," to which the duke responds by taking his side, telling Brabantio "the bloody book of law/ you shall yourself read in the bitter letter/ after your own sense" -meaning he is allowing Brabantio to take whatever revenge he likes on the man who took his daughter. Then Brabantio announces who he is speaking of - "here is the man: this Moor".
After finding out that Desdemona's husband is Othello, the Duke has a friendlier attitude towards him - he seems to hold Othello in good esteem. Rather than continuing to talk to Brabantio he asks Othello what he can say for himself. Othello gives a speech saying he won Desdemona's heart without the use of any witchcraft, and even after Brabantio has said how unlikely it was for Desdemona to love Othello (so he must have bewitched her) the Duke seems to be on Othello's side now. He says basically that Othello is innocent unless proven guilty. After Othello has told a story of himself and Desdemona falling in love the Duke tells Brabantio to "take up this mangled matter at the best" (basically to accept how it turned out, a much different attitude to the free reign for violence he was going to grant earlier).
Near the end of the scene (line 286) the Duke says to Brabantio "your son-in-law is far more fair than black" - this may sound pretty racist to us but he is trying to compliment Othello so Brabantio will accept him.