In this essay through close reading I will discuss the importance of the scene in relation to the characters and main themes explored in the play whilst investigating how the play text can be turned into actions by the actor, analysing the language for cues on performance. Othello is a domestic tragedy based around the marriage of Othello a black moor and Desdemona the only daughter of a wealthy senator. I will consider the theme of class/rank, racial prejudice is a crucial issue in the play. It sets Othello leaving him feeling like the outsider. Subsequently, questioning if he is worthy of Desdemona. Making it easy for Iago to convince him she has cheated. I will investigate Iago’s treachery and use of foreshadowing. I will explore the theme of love and death, whilst considering the conflicting characteristics of Othello the general and Othello lover.
Othello is a play about ‘jealousy, hate, treachery and finally death’ (Pachecco, 2012, pg.31). A domestic tragedy by Shakespeare written in the renaissance period. The beginning of Act 1 scene 3 shows the audience that they are at war, it is a public scene set in the council chambers, here Othello is in effect put on trial and must defend his character and his actions. Shakespeare has structured the scene so that the discussions flip between love and war, this is an indication that Othello will be pulled in different directions.
This extract from Act 1 Scene 3 of Othello is where Othello must defend himself against accusations of witchcraft. ‘at the time in Jacobean England, as in Scotland, witchcraft was taken very seriously by many people.’(Pachecco, 2012, pg.31) Dramatic irony is already in place as Othello the ‘tragic hero’ is being fooled by Iago the ‘powerful shaping force’ (Pachecco, 2012, pg.13) the audience already know that Iago though inferior in stature is a dominant force, he is not what he seems. Iago resents Othello for giving Cassio a promotion he felt was rightfully his. Therefore, Othello could also be classed as a revenge tragedy whereby Iago abuses his power of being a trusted ensign to work against Othello and ultimate poison his mind.
Up until this point in the play Roderigo, Brabantio and Iago has painted the picture of Othello to the audience as a thief, a criminal, as a villain. However, here the political elite of Venice, the Duke and Senators, address him as ‘Valiant Othello’ (1.3.49) a term that identifies his bravery and honourability. Similarly, the Duke addressing Brabantio as ‘gentle signor’ (1.3.51) suggests the audience is seeing him out of character. The rash and angry person they have seen so far is not the norm, this could be an example of Iago’s manipulative capabilities.
We see punctuation creating caesura in Brabantio response. Caesura might well suggest aspects of performance here to create greater drama and demonstrate his immense distress. ‘My daughter; O, my daughter!’ (1.3.58) indeed, Brabantio’s hyperbolic reaction to the Dukes question leads the Duke to think his daughter is dead.
‘She is abused, stolen from me, and corrupted’ (1.3.60) is an important line in this extract. Here Brabantio is declaring that is daughter has been manipulated, she has been taken by force, charmed by magic. The reference to her being stolen suggests that he sees his daughter as property. Foreshadowing as the audience is remined of this line later in the play in Act 3 Scene 3 when Othello echoes these words. ‘I am abused, and my relief must be to loathe her’ ((Shakespeare and Neill, 2008), pg.298) as he momentarily doubts Desdemona.
Brabantio has an idea of his daughters nature which he believes is chaste, virginal and vulnerable. He is saying his daughter has moved to far away from her normal behaviour that it must be that the product of witchcraft spells and medicines. The Duke responds by saying that Brabantio can he himself pass sentence, and that he would allow him to take action even if it was against his own son. The fact that the Duke asks for Othello to defend himself shows how much he is needed to fight the war against the ‘Ottomites’
When Othello makes his extended speech in blank verse the audience may then wonder at his politeness and tone showing him as a man of civilisation and great speech ‘My very noble and approved good masters’(1.3.78) links to the theme of class as Othello addresses them as if a servant. ‘Rude am I in my speech’ (1.3.82) Othello self-deprecates showing he is insecure in the roll of lover. It is the insecurity seen in this scene and the misplaced loyalty to his ensign and brother at arms Iago that could be considered Othello fatal flaws that lead to the tragic end. Though out the play Othello is torn between love and war. He is a soldier, so he is not used to speaking in soft tones. Here audience is seeing the conflicting sides of Othello’s character. The warrior will tell how he came to know love. The conflict between Othello the lover and Othello the warrior is a strong theme in the play.
We see caesura and repetition as Othello responds to accusations laid at him ‘That I have taken away this man’s daughter. It is most true; true ‘(1.3.79-80) the pun on the idea he has kidnapped this man’s daughter is clarified after the pause. I have married her (1.3.80) Othello’s defence tells a tale of a life of travel and adventure, of battles and victory, life death and intrigue, vastly different from the those around him. This underlines the social divide between characters, again linking to the theme class. Shakespeare uses anaphora to build feeling and heighten emotional as Othello repeats the word what, ‘what drugs, what charms, What conjuration’ (1.3.92-93) ending with added alliteration ‘and what mighty magic’ (1.3.93) as he defends himself against the accusation. Pridefully declaring I won his daughter (1.3.94) which implies he too considers Brabantio’s daughter as a possession.
‘A maiden never bold’ (1.3.95) Brabantio repeats his accusations showing the audience the contrast in what he and Othello believes has been done. The audience at this point do not know which version of Desdemona, if either, is true. Neither it seems does the Duke with accusations of witchcraft once again being stated, the Duke asks for proof.
The final for lines of this extract spoken by Othello shows his faith and trust in his magnificent love for her offering up his life should he be wrong.
‘If you do find me foul in her report,
The trust, the office I do hold of you
Not only take away, but let your sentence
Even fall upon my life. (1.3.18-21)
The performance involved in portraying a confident and assured general of war struggling with the insecurities of being inadequate in relationship to love and his marriage is no doubt complex. When planning to stage this extract, a director would need to find ways show Othello’s conflicting characteristics and may also wish to highlight the class divide between Othello and the other gentlemen. It could be that the direct decides to show this scene as an actual trial viewing the duke as the judge and the senators and the officers as the jury as Brabantio and Othello stood at podiums put their cases forward. I could be that Othello’s costume is used to reflect that he is more comfortable when at war. Alternatively, the direct could chose to have Brabantio upstage with the politicians whilst Othello and Iago stand down stage as a visual divide. The direct may want Iago in a position to be seen so the audience can see him reactions and expressions as the scene he was instrumental in, plays out. Brabantio speeches suggest he is agitated and upset so he could be actively moving about the stage as he speaks, becoming more and more loud and angry. When the Dukes calls ‘to vouch this is no proof’ as he demands physical evidence (1.3.107) all movement could stop. Leading up to a more mediatory interception from First Senator as he speaks to the calm Othello. On the final line ‘Ensign, conduct them—you best know the place.’ (1.3.122) Othello may place a hand on Iago to demonstrate friendship and trust. An effective performance of this scene would capture the love between Othello and Desdemona and highlight the closeness off the relationship Iago has with Othello. By the end of this scene the audience should left in no doubt that Othello loves the fair Desdemona, and that Desdemona loves the noble and brave Othello. The greater the love, the greater the tragedy.
Word-count: 1445
Bibliography
Pacheco, A., 2012. The Renaissance And Long Eighteenth Century. London: Bloomsbury Academic.
Shakespeare, W. and Neill, M., 2008. Othello. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
2020-11-1-1604260489