Othello blog #2

The beginning of Act I scene 3 starts with the Duke and his senators talking about a possible invasion of the Turks. This is the first time in this play that the characters discuss happenings outside of the basic storyline of the play itself.  Before you know it, Brabantio comes running into the court asking the Duke to arrest Othello for stealing his daughter.  He then finds out that Desdemona has been sleeping with Othello and this just puts him over the top mad.  He cannot believe that Othello, once his great friend, has spoiled his maiden daughter.  Brabantio accuses Othello of using some sort of witch craft in order to make Desdemona fall in love with him.  However, Othello is so certain that he did nothing of the sort that he is willing to stake his life on the fact that Desdemona shares the same unforced love for him as he does for her.  “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.” (I.iii.117-120)

Granted that Othello never did such a thing the Duke still wants proof of his innocence. So Othello goes about telling the Duke how Brabantio had invited him over on several occasions to tell the stories of his dangerous youth.  Othello says that these stories are the sole cause of the love between him and Desdemona.  Othello goes on saying that Desdemona pitied the hardships that Othello had to struggle through.  

Brabantio still cannot believe it so he wants to hear it from Desdemona herself. Honestly, who can blame him?  If I were her dad and just found out that my little girl was messing around with a black man that wasn’t from the same religion I would want her word too. 

Anyways, Desdemona goes about telling her father that she married Othello and truly does love him.  She tells her dad that she is only letting Othello take her from him because he did the same thing to her mother.  “And so much duty as my mother showed To you, preferring you before her father, So much I challenge that I may profess Due to the Moor my lord.” (I.iii.184-187) Brabantio is so let down he cannot even stand the thought of thinking of her, “For your sake, jewel, I am glad at soul I have no other child, For thy escape would teach me tyranny, To hang clogs on them. I have done, my lord.” (I.iii.193-196)

When you continue reading, Othello goes on to protect Cyprus from the Turks.  Meanwhile, Desdemona begins talking to Cassio and asks him to compliment her.  Now Iago hears the whole conversation and believes that she is now falling in love with Cassio!  Act 2 scene 1 begins the fight between Montano and Cassio.  I am not quite sure what the fight was pertaining to, all I know is that Othello helped to end it.

In conclusion, I believe that Iago is going to drive Othello crazy about the fact that Desdemona loves him and possibly loves Cassio as well.  I also believe that Iago is becoming more partial to Roderigo than he is to Othello and in the end might use this to his benefit.  We will just have to keep reading to find out.