Othello Act 1 Scene 3 and Act 2 Scenes 1 and 2

In Act 1 Scene 3 of Othello, Brabantio is determined to see Othello get punished. The Venetian council is having a meeting when Brabantio bursts in complaining that his daughter has been taken from him: "She is abused, stol'n from me, and corrupted by spells and medicines bought of mountebanks; For nature so prepost'rously to err, being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense, sans witchcraft could not." (I.iii.59-64). I think Brabantio is suggesting that Othello practices witchcraft and he somehow got Desdemona to fall in love with him using spells. This is very stereotypical because Brabantio thinks Othello practices witchcraft because of his skin color. Othello argues that he earned Desdemona's love by saying: "Of my whole course of love--what drugs, what charms, what conjuration, and what mighty magic, for such proceeding I am charged withal, I won his daughter." (I.iii.91-93). Othello says that he didn't put a spell on Desdemona and that she fell in love with him on her own. Brabantio comes back with saying that Desdemona would never fall in love with someone like Othello because she was shy and timid: "A maiden never bold, of spirit so still and quiet that her motion blushed at herself; and she, in spite of nature, of years, of country, credit, everything, to fall in love with what she feared to look on!" (I.iii.94-98). Othello says that "Her father loved me; oft invited me; still questioned me the story of my life." (I.iii. 127-128) and says that Desdemona fell in love with him because of his stories: "And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her, I should but teach him how to tell my story, and that would woo her." (I.iii.163-165). Desdemona finally comes in and proclaims her love for Othello: "But here's my husband and so much duty as my mother showed to you, preferring you before her father, so much I challenge that I may profess due to the Moor my lord." (I.iii.183-187). It seems like Brabantio is in denial and needs the final word from his daughter. But if Othello used magic to make Desdemona fall in love with him like Brabantio suggested, the couldn't he cast a spell on her to make her say that she's truly in love with him? It just doesn't make sense to me.
When Othello and Desdemona exit, Roderigo is all depressed because Desdemona doesn't love him: "I will incontinently drown myself." (I.iii.300). Iago gets mad at him and says: "It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission of the will. Come, be a man! Drown thyself? Drown cats and blind puppies!" (I.iii.330-332). Iago tell Roderigo constantly to "put money in thy purse" and it's not the end of the world if Desdemona doesn't love him.
In Act 2 Scene 1 Desdemona, Iago, Roderigo and Emilia arrive. Iago makes a rude comment about his wife: "Sir, would she give you so much of her lips as of her tongue she oft bestows on me, you would have enough." (II.i.100-102). This is suggesting that she talks too much. He also says: "Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk; You rise to play, and go to bed to work." (II.i.112-113). Iago seems to have little respect for his wife and women in general. Cassio then takes Desdemona aside by the hand and Iago thinks there is more going on than meets the eye: "He takes her by the palm. Ay, well said, whisper! With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio." (II.i.165-167). Othello arrives with the news that the Turks have drowned. At the end of the scene Iago has a soliloquy. He says that he loves Desdemona and wants to get even with Othello because he had an affair with Emilia: "Now I do love her too; Not out of absolute lust, though peradventure I stand accountant for as great a sin, but partly led to diet my revenge, for that I do suspect the lusty Moor hath leaped into my seat." (II.i.291-296).
Nothing much happens in Act 2 Scene 2 but Othello's herald announces the fall of the Turks and the marriage of Othello and Desdemona. After reading so far I'm beginning to think that Iago is truly evil and will stop at nothing to separate Othello and Desdemona. I just hope Othello sees it in time time to try and save his marriage!

Othello Act 1 Scenes 1 and 2

Reading the first two scenes of Act 1 of Othello has given me a pretty good generalization of the characters and I think I have an idea about what is happening in the story so far. Roderigo is a guy who obviously hates Othello since he says, "Thou told'st me thou didst hold him in thy hate" (I.i.5-6) to Iago. I assume the "him" Roderigo is referring to is Othello because he is the main character. Iago assures Roderigo by saying, "Despise me if I do not." (I.i.7-8). Roderigo also displays his hate for Othello by saying, "By heaven, I rather would have been his hangman." (I.i.81-82). Roderigo makes a racial remark about Othello when he calls him "the thick lips". This refers to Othello's African heritage. Iago and Roderigo then walk by the house of Brabantio and yell to get his attention, asking if he's been robbed. When Brabantio comes to the window Roderigo flat out tells him that his daughter is having sexual relations with Othello: "I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are making the beast with two backs." (I.i. 113-114). At first Brabantio is in denial and calls Roderigo a liar but Roderigo tells him that he speaks the truth and Brabantio admits he had a feeling this was happening: "This accident is not unlike my dream. Belief of it oppresses me already." (I.i.139-140).
First of all Roderigo must really be out to get Othello if he tells the girl's father that she is sleeping with the Moor. There's also some jealousy behind Roderigo's scheme. He must be angered by the fact that a rich man such as himself can't get the girl but a black man can.
Second of all Brabantio must be really oblivious to what his daughter is doing when he's not around. He even denies that his daughter would do such a thing, which suggests that he and his daughter don't have a very good relationship. Brabantio is surprised that his own daughter would go behind his back like that: "How didst thou know 'twas she? -O she deceives me." (I.i.162). He didn't even know she and Othello were married. Brabantio even questions his own parenting by saying, "Fathers, from hence trust not your daughter's minds by what you see them act." (I.i.167-168).
In Scene 2 Iago arrives to tell Othello that Brabantio wants to arrest him. Othello seems to be calm and not worried at all: "Let him do his spite. My services which I have done the Signiory shall out-tongue his complaints." (I.ii.17-18), and "Not I. I must be found. My parts, my title, and my perfect soul shall manifest me rightly." (I.ii.30). Iago seems like he is betraying Roderigo by warning Othello about Brabantio coming to arrest him.
A lot has happened in the first two scenes of Othello. Roderigo hates Othello and wants to ruin his life, Brabantio is on a mission to arrest Othello for marrying his daughter and Othello just wants to live a happy life with his wife. I don't understand why everyone is hating Othello, but I'm sure I'll find out why later on.