Othello is not a rich person, is a foreigner and this is saying that Brabantio thinks that Othello has put a curse on Desdemona. This is saying that Desdemona had turned down a lot of wealthy people from their nation. Of such thing as though – to fear, not to delight” The wealthy curled darlings of our nation, “Whether a maid so tender, fair, and unhappy, Brabantio has already shown his racism in Act 1, Scene 2 when he says to Othello that Desdemona was frightened of him: Roderigo also shows his racism by calling Othello aĪgain this stereotypes Othello. This is showing Iago’s racism by saying to Brabantio a black man is having sex with his daughter. “Your heart is burst you have lost half your soul,Įven now, now, very now, an old black rum On the other hand, there is also a lot of evidence showing that Venice is a racist society for example in act 1, scene 1 when Iago says:
![othello act 1 scene 3 summary othello act 1 scene 3 summary](https://image2.slideserve.com/4206356/act-1-scene-1-l.jpg)
This shows us that the duke speaks to both Brabantio and Othello in a very respectful way. The duke talks to Brabantio in a respectful way by saying:
![othello act 1 scene 3 summary othello act 1 scene 3 summary](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AoUaQDIHjA8/maxresdefault.jpg)
This also shows that the duke has a high opinion of Othello. Here the duke had used the powerful adjective ‘Valiant’, which indicates that he is brave, strong and honourable and consequently praises Othello’s abilities in war. But when they enter the sagitary the duke is one of the first people that call him by his name: Almost every single time Othello is called by the racist term “the moor”. Brabantio is always referred by his name because he has a lot of respect due to the wealth he has. Therefore, when they meet on the stage, the audience is feeling really excited because they would want to know how the duke responds. The audience know that Brabantio has bought Othello to the Duke because of Othello’s secret marriage to Brabantio’s daughter, Desdemona.īrabantio is really angry about the marriage but the senators don’t know this. This would keep the audience interested in the play, something that was really hard in those days. When Brabantio, Cassio, Iago, Othello, Roderigo and the officers enter the stage, it attracts the audience attention immediately because all the male characters of the play are present at the same time and same place, also there is a dramatic irony taking place.īy placing the key characters on the stage at the same time it is obvious to the audience that something ‘big’ is about to occur and will be very significant to the outcome of the play. This theme of confusion is carried all throughout the play, as Iago confuses Othello about the doings of his trustworthy wife, Desdemona and his good friend and lieutenant Cassio by poisoning his mind. This creates the theme of confusion and forms suspense, as the audience will want to know the actual number of galleys in the Turkish fleet. They also are not sure about the destination of the Turkish flotilla, as some of them believe that they might be heading for Rhodes and not Cyprus. The second senator’s report states that there are:Īnd the Duke’s report states that there are: “My letter says a hundred and seven galleys”. The first senator’s report says that there are: The council members are in a predicament as to what to do, as each member have a different report of the size of the Turkish fleet and also its destination. Shakespeare subtly introduces the theme of racial discrimination on the grounds of religiously. The Turks are non-Christians and therefore considered to be malevolent during the era, and anybody who’s not white and a Christian, were always associated with evil. It is to be decided what the Venetian’s will do to protect their colony from the imminent attack of the Turkish fleet. Cyprus is a trading island, where merchants from all over the world come to trade and therefore Cyprus has become the target of the Turkish fleet to conquer, as Turkey has an interest in Cyprus’s wealth in this meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to decide the future of one of the Venetian colonies, Cyprus. This strategy used by Shakespeare motivates the audience to focus on the scene. Council meetings are usually held during the day but the fact that it is night time now, makes the audience think that the topic of this meeting is so important that the council members cannot wait till it is morning to discuss it.
![othello act 1 scene 3 summary othello act 1 scene 3 summary](https://s3.studylib.net/store/data/008352523_1-578bca16f338191ce6b682a92fd48637.png)
The main action that occurs at the beginning of this scene is the meeting between the Duke and the senators of Venice, in the council chambers. This immediately notifies the audience that if it is night time and introduces the theme of dark and light, where dark symbolizes bad or evil and light symbolizes good and innocent. “Enter Duke and senators, set a table with lights, and attendants” Therefore Shakespeare, in act 1 scene 3 commence with these stage directions: