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The scene begins in Venice. Roderigo and Iago are speaking to each other. Roderigo is upset. He paid Iago to do something but Iago failed to do it. Iago doesn’t blame Roderigo for being upset.
Iago goes off on a tangent to explain himself. He says that he had three important people speak to Othello about making him his lieutenant. Othello, however, always evaded the issue of promoting Iago and he instead chose somebody from Florence who was good at arithmetic. The man Othello chose as lieutenant is Michael Cassio. According to Iago, Cassio doesn’t know much about actual battles; instead, he only knows battle theories from books. Since Iago has not been promoted to lieutenant he does not have the money to repay Roderigo.
Iago goes onto say that he only serves Othello because he wants to turn upon him; in other words, he wants to get revenge on him for not gaining the promotion. Iago describes himself as a person who only appears to follow his boss to earn money. After his money is earned, he plans to take charge of his own life. He says that he only appears to follow Othello, but in reality he only follows himself (he is serving himself).
Iago and Roderigo approach the house of Desdemona’s father. Desdemona is Othello’s girlfriend. Desdemona’s father is named Brabantio. Iago comes up with a plan to strike some fear into Brabantio. He instructs Roderigo to call up to Brabantio and wake him up. Together, they’ll poison Brabantio’s thoughts with slander. Roderigo shouts up to Brabantio’s upstairs bedroom. Iago chimes in and warms Brabantio of thieves at his house.
Brabantio peaks out from the window and asks the men what they’re talking about. Iago explains that a black man, Othello, has robbed Brabantio of his white ewe, Desdemona. Brabantio asks if the men have lost their wits. Then, Brabantio reminds Roderigo that he has told him not to loiter at his house. Furthermore, he has told Roderigo that Desdemona is not well-suited for him. Roderigo says that he has come to Brabantio with a pure heart.
Iago, then, tells Brabantio that his daughter is off “making the beast with two backs” with the Moor (Othello). To put it in simple English, Desdemona is sleeping with Othello. Brabantio calls Iago a villain, to which Iago retorts that Brabantio is a senator (perhaps, this was the quickest comeback Iago could come up with).
Next, Roderigo speaks his mind about Othello. He is not too fond of Othello and he says that he is no better than a gondolier, a person who drives a gondola (a boat) through the waters of Venice. Over it, according to Roderigo, Desdemona is stuck in the gross grip of this common Moor. Roderigo, realizing that perhaps Brabantio is aware of Desdemona’s relationship with Othello, apologizes if the senator was already aware of this news. However, Roderigo says that if Brabantio has only become aware of Desdemona’s tidings now, then he should be a little more appreciative of this late night chat.
Iago leaves the area; he has to stay in good standings with Othello and he doesn’t want his face revealed to Brabantio. Brabantio comes downstairs to speak to Roderigo. He wants more details on the relationship that Desdemona has with Othello. Brabantio, alarmed by this recent news, is intent on now finding his daughter. She’s not at home, so Brabantio has his people go around to find her.
OTHELLO -- ACT I, 1
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by William Shakespeare
