Othello act 1, scene 2 translation shakescleare, by. Writerdirector oliver parker an ideal husband adapts shakespeares towering tragedy of passion and jealousy with shattering performances by kenneth branagh iago, irene jacob desdemona and. What accusation does brabantio make against othello to the duke. Two of the key characters are cassio, othello s loyal captain, and roderigo, a man who is love with othello s wife, desdemona. Othello is the story of a crosscultural romance between the title character, a noble moor who is a general in the venetian army, and desdemona, a beautiful and virtuous venetian lady.
Character analysis of cassio and roderigo from othello. The duke gives othello the chance to speak for himself. Iago, an ensign the lowest ranking commissioned officer in the venetian army, and roderigo, a venetian gentleman, discuss the important incident that has taken place prior to the plays opening. Othello says that he won desdemona not by witchcraft but loved him for the dangers i had passd, and i loved her that she did pity them. After listening to both sides of the story, what was the duke s reply. How do the duke and senate show they are trying to conduct. On the one hand, he is a christian probably and experienced military leader, commanding respect and admiration from the duke, the senate, and many venetian citizens. Explain the reason othello has for why des loves him. This might be interpreted in the fact that othello was more necessary and important to venice than brabantio. The lesson briefly introduces the clown as a dramatic type and provides an analysis of the clown who appears in william shakespeares othello. He is someone who, despite prejudices attached to his skin, is found worthy of love from the fair desdemona due to the merit of his service to the venetian government. William shakespeares othello reading comprehension questions.
Duke of venice the official authority in venice, the duke has great respect for othello as a public and military servant. This lesson provides an analysis of the duke of venice as a character in shakespeares othello, examining his contributions to exposition in the play and some key themes. Othello, cassio, and roderigo, all enter and brabantio. Though theyve already got some guys on the ground there, everyone would feel better if othello went, as hes competent and knowledgeable about the area. Othello character analysis essay example graduateway.
Iago does this by using people once again, this time it is emilia whom he gets to steal the handkerchief. The duke and senators receive news of a serious threat against cyprus, which makes the duke very anxious to see othello. Iago plans to make othello think desdemona pleads out of love for cassio. My good deeds done in service to the city government will have more influence than his complaints. Its not yet wellknownand i wont spread this news until i hear that its an honor to boast but i am descended from men of royal lineage.
Who is othello and why is he so respected by the duke. The relationships between the othello desdemona prolific. In othello, what is the military issue that the duke of. Enter brabantio, othello, iago, roderigo, and officers. The character of duke of venice in othello from litcharts. Iago warns othello about brabantios anger, but othello is confident in his own strength and in his love for desdemona. Othello william shakespeare literature essays essay. Get an answer for how did the duke feel about desdemona and othello s marriage. The newlymarried couple fall prey to the machinations of iago, othello s jealous ensign, who plots to destroy their union. Read shakespeares othello, act 1, scene 2 for free from the folger shakespeare library. Iago crudely informs brabantio, desdemonas father, that othello and desdemona have eloped. Brabantio calls for othello s arrest and imprisonment but cedes precedence to the duke s summons to the emergency meeting.
Brabantio threatens othello with violence and accuses him of using sorcery to seduce desdemona, his reasoning being that she would never marry othello voluntarily. The duke appoints othello to lead the forces defending venice against the turkish attack on cyprus. Iago believes he is a better soldier and more deserving, than cassio the book smart warrior all talk and no action preferment goes by letter. The story revolves around its two central characters. The duke orders othello immediately to cyprus and grants desdemona her wish to join him there. Enter othello, iago, and attendants with torches iago though in the trade of war i have slain men, yet do i hold it very stuff o the conscience to do no contrived murder. For if such actions may have passage free, bondslaves and pagans shall our statesmen be. This shows iago uses lots of opportunism to convince othello of desdemonas infidelity. This is the same reason that the duke and nobleman love othello so much as well. It is thought that his life and character were ruined by the art and skill of the incredible villain, iago. Or any of my brothers of the state, cannot but feel this wrong as twere their own.
The duke is initially eager to take brabanzios side, but he becomes more skeptical when he learns that othello is the man accused. You can browse andor search so you can find a monologue whether you know which one you want, or youre looking for monologue ideas. Read shakespeares othello, act 1, scene 3 for free from the folger shakespeare library. The monologues are organized by play, then categorized by comedy, history and tragedy. This further aids them to comprehend and examine the previous texts and decide what improvements should be brought in order to adapt to different contexts. An intertextual reading of the play othello and the film o. Introduced to us in act i, scene iii, he sends othello with his wife desdemona to cypress to thwart a suspected turkish invasion there. Brabantio believes that the duke will side with him because they are both white and othello is black.
Librivox recording of othello, by william shakespeare. After listening to both sides of the story, what is the duke s reply. So im worthy of the noble fortune of desdemonas family. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
He and lodovico find cassio wounded after roderigo stabs him in the drunken. Othello characters guide studies each characters role and motivation in this play. All speeches lines and cues for brabantio in othello. Othello s status in venice is pretty complicatedhes both an insider and an outsider. Ppt othello powerpoint presentation free to download.
Flint is the hardest stone, and steel the hardest metal. Othello scene commentary act i, scene i when the play opens, it is night in venice. What accusation does brabantio make against othello to the. The duke s in council and your noble self, i am sure, is sent for. The duke hopes othello s leadership of his venetian forces will see the venetians triumphant. The duke of venice the leader of the governing body of the city state of venice. Othello has promoted cassio, not iago, to be his lieutenant. For example, othello had told the duke, so please your grace, my ancient. Othello is a brave and competent soldier of advanced years and moorish background in the service of the venetian republic. Before the venetian senate, brabantio accuses othello of bewitching desdemona. How do the duke and senate show they are trying to conduct a fair hearing of this case. Othello, a moorish general in the venetian army, and his treacherous. Racism in othello, by william shakespeare racism in.
Othello studies answer key short answer study guide. The duke and members of the senate discuss news that the turks have launched. The bill shakespeare project looks at a fascinating selection from othello that combines verse, rhyme and prose. Get an answer for in othello, what is the military issue that the duke of venice and his senator discuss. A modern perspective, further reading, download othello. Iago uses the fact that othello is black and that desdemona is white to enrage brabantio, who appeals to the duke of venice to annul the marriage on the grounds that othello used magic to seduce desdemona. Othello the tragedy of othello, the moor of venice is a tragedy by william shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603. Othello admits that he married desdemona, but he denies having used magic to woo her and claims that desdemona will support his story. The official authority in venice, the duke has great respect for othello as a military man and, unlike the other residents of venice, does not betray any racial prejudice against othello and, in fact, is unsurprised that desdemona fell in love with him.
They try to show fairness by letting everyone involved say their piece. The duke says hes sorry, but othello will have to spend his wedding night preparing for battle not knowing hes speaking metaphorically and prophetically. She believes that if you feel something is right you should do it. Officers attending there is a fleet of turkish ships heading for cyprus. Brabantio complains to the duke about othello s marriage to desdemona. Othello will feel like an outsider in discriminatory, mostlywhite venice, but he may also feel like an outside because he sees himself primarily a soldier, with little social experience outside of the battlefield, little of this great world can i. Othello the tragedy of othello, william shakespeare othello the tragedy of othello, the moor of venice is a tragedy by william shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603. The duke weighs the evidence and determines that othello used only the magic of words and that desdemona and othello are truly in love. Everyone considered iago as honest, and would be out of character for othello to believe any different.
His primary role within the play is to reconcile othello and brabanzio in act i, scene iii, and then to send othello to cyprus. When the duke tells othello that he must leave for cyprus immediately, even though he is newly married, othello replies that he is so used to the hardships of war that the flinty and steel couch of war is his thricedriven bed of down 1. Othello is believed to be one of the noblest characters in english literature. The duke and senators discuss sending othello, a mighty warrior, to defend cyprus. The duke says he thinks othello would win his daughter as well under the same circumstances. In shakespeares othello, othello is presented as a man of stature and distinction, so much so that others oft precede his name with the word valiant 1. The senators wish to send othello to cyprus, which is under threat from turkey. Othello is to meet with the duke and senators of venice about a turkish invasion of the venetian colony of cyprus. What do the senators and the duke think of othello. How does iago convince othello of desdemonas infidelity. This situation, yet unknown to us, will, by and by, form the. Iago bob hoskins and a comradeinarms are outside the venice home of desdemonas father, brabantio geoffrey chater, who does not yet know that she has eloped with othello sir anthony hopkins. Another way iago convinces othello of desdemonas infidelity is by obtaining the handkerchief to which he frames cassio. Explain iagos belief regarding humans ability to choose who we are and how we feel.
When the duke s speech about cyprus is done, othello returns the language to verse. Othello s explanation, however, wins the duke over. Detailed summary of othello, act 1, scene 3 page index. Othello is to meet with the duke and senators of venice about a turkish invasion of.
The story of a moorish general othello and the soldier iago who plots to usurp him, the play features a small cast of characters who are manipulated and pitted against each other as part of iagos deceitful plan. Iago confides to his friend, who had hoped to marry desdemona dame penelope wilton, that he serves othello to further his own ends. Enter brabantio, othello, iago, roderigo, and officers duke of venice valiant othello, we must straight employ you against the general enemy ottoman. One such favourable backing is found in the duke of venice, who snubbed brabantio, in favour of othello taking his wife desdemona with him to cyprus. This wasnt very bright of othello, even if he wasnt trusting or more corrupt he still wouldnt realize iago was lying. How did the duke feel about desdemona and othellos.