#Gray milksnake professional#

The audience first sees Othello through the eyes of Iago, Rodrigo, and Brabantio. Iago successfully uses animal comparisons and Brabantio’s racism to make him furious. However, when he learns that she has eloped with the Moor, Rodrigo seems like a good match. For instance, when the father recognizes Rodrigo, he tells him that Desdemona is not a fit for him. It makes him furious because she married not one of the “curled darlings of her nations.” It implies that Othello’s race is more critical to Brabantio than Othello’s achievements and social status as a general. Rodrigo calls him “the thick lips.” Iago refers to Othello as “an old black ram,” “a Barbary horse,” “the lascivious Moor.” These animal comparisons of Othello’s race continue to appear in the play.īrabantio learns that his daughter, Desdemona, has eloped with Othello. The abundance of racial remarks by both Rodrigo and Iago in Act 1 Scene 1 emphasizes racist attitudes towards Othello. Race plays a vital role in the opening scene as well. Another interpretation of this hatred can be rooted in his personal feelings towards Desdemona.Įven though the reasons for Iago’s feelings are present in the text, they are less important than the results of his evil manipulations. This quote might suggest that race plays a role in Iago’s resentment too. Iago calls him a “bookish theoric.” He also notes that Cassio is not Venetian (just like Othello). Cassio serves a role of a victimized lieutenant in Othello.Īdditionally, everything Cassio knows about war is learned from the textbooks. He calls him “spinster,” alluding to his young age and absence of sexual experience. According to Iago, Cassio does not possess the needed knowledge and courage on the battlefield. Nevertheless, Othello preferred to promote Cassio instead. He even claims that some three influential Venetians had approached the general with this suggestion. First, he wanted Othello to promote him to the rank of lieutenant.

#Gray milksnake professional#

There are several different interpretations for this profoundly rooted resentment: both professional and personal. In the opening scene, Iago also explains his reasons for hating Othello. However, what is clear to everyone, Iago does not respect Roderigo. The audience does not know for how long this friendship persisted. In return, Iago gets money from the wealthy Roderigo.

He promises Rodrigo to make Desdemona fall in love with him. This opening scene serves two main functions: it intrigues the audience and reveals Iago’s manipulative nature.

The play starts with a quarrel between Iago and Rodrigo. He is convinced that the general used some magic charms to attract Desdemona. Brabantio goes to look for Othello with his men. Iago leaves Roderigo and goes to search for Othello, who does not know about his participation in the scheme. Brabantio ends up looking for his daughter and doesn’t find her. Iago tells the senator again and again that Othello and Desdemona have sexual relationships. In the beginning, he does not believe Roderigo and Iago. Brabantio, a prominent Venetian senator, comes out to see who is making all this noise. The two come to Desdemona’s father and tell him that he has been robbed.

So the family will be against the general. Iago suggests that to spoil Desdemona and Othello’s ideal life, they have to let Desdemona’s parents know. Roderigo fears that he has lost Desdemona and his money because of it. Another reason is Othello’s race, as he is a Moore, an African. The main one is that despite Iago’s exemplary service, Michael Cassio was promoted to the post of lieutenant. He hates Othello and has reasons for that, as he claims. Othello is the general whom Iago has been serving. He also learned that Desdemona had married Othello recently. To his disappointment, there was no progress in his efforts to win her heart. Rodrigo, a wealthy nobleman, asked Iago to help him marry Desdemona. It happens on the dark streets of Venice. Othello Act 1 starts with the argument between Rodrigo and Iago.