1. Literary Analysis Exercise
Othello(Act 1 ,Scene 3)
Literary Analysis Exercise
Nemo. M
Daniel. M
Christina. P
Zixin. S

2. Plot
Duke and the senators are discussing about the Turks is heading for Cyprus and a war is coming up
Othello and Brabantio came and Brabantio claims that Othello stole his daughter
Othello defence himself by saying he and Desdemona married because of love, and told the story of how they got together
Desdemona came afterwards and proved Othello’s story
Othello planed to go to Cyprus immeidiately to fight for the war, along with Desdemona
Roderigo wants to drawn himself because Desdemona is married, but was being told by Iago that he should control his emotions, and go get more money for him and go to Cyprus together

3. Theme
Don’t judge someone’s actions by their appearance. This is proven to be a theme because of how Desdemona and Iago are seen as loyal people. However they both betrayed the ones that trusted them.
People are not seen as equals as racism and sexism is present throughout the play. For othello has been judged for his skin colour and women like Desdemona are seen as property from a mans eye. Just like Desdemona’s father Brabantio.

4. Character *Brabantio * Desdemona * Duke *
Brabantio is Desdemona’s father and like many Shakespesrean fathers, Brabantio tends to see his daughter as his property, which means that he sees marriage as a potential businese transaction. He likes Othello and invites him to visit his house a lot, but he never expected Othello "to steal" his daughter. He never believed his little girl would marry Othello unless she was drugged or under some kind of spell.
Desdemona is her fathers pride and joy, and Othello’s loving wife. She is a lady of spirit and intelligence. Desdemona is the most direct and honest speaker in the play. Her speeches are not as lengthy as those of the men, but with Desdemona, every word counts.
Duke has the official authority in Venice, he has great respect for Othello as a public and militery servant. His primary role within the play is to reconcile Othello and Brabantio in Act 1, scene iii, and then send Othello to Cyprus.

5. Character * Iago * Othello * Roderigo *
Iago is the villian of the play, and Othello’s ensign. Iago is portrayed to show that he does not need much motivation to inflict pain and damage on others, even enjoying the discomfort he causes. Iago is also very manipulative and cunning, while funny and entertaining. He also appears to be cowardly, especially in the last scene, when he murders his own wife.
Othello is the play’s protagonist. Although he is greatly respected and powerful in the play, he is insecure because of his age, life and race. Othello is good-natured and kind hearted, which Iago uses against him in changing his love for Desdemona into jealousy.
Roderigo is a rich, unintelligent guy who thinks that if he sends Desdemona enough expensive presents, she'll fall in love with him. He's hired Iago to be his wingman, but Iago basically uses him as a walking ATM. Iago takes the jewelry Roderigo thinks he's giving to Desdemona and sells it for a profit. All Roderigo does in response is to fall for Iago's smooth talking again and again.

6. Setting and mood Racism (I.3.47) Superstition (I.3.59-64)
Anti-feminist (I.3.191)

7. How the passage fits into the timeline
In Act 1 Scene 3, it started off with a disccussion betweeen the Duke and the senators about the war. This sets up a fairly serious atmosphere within the meeting.
Othello then comes in with Brabantio, and immediately Brabantio claims that Othello has eloped with Desdemona. This is the spark of Iago’s plan, but Othello assured that him and Desdemona got married simply because of their love for eachother. Although Desdemona came in afterwards and proved that Othello is innocent, Brabantio tells Othello that if Desdemona has decived her own father she will eventually decive Othello.
At the end of this scene, Iago was having a conversation with Roderigo, about how Roderigo should not give up on Desdemona, and that they should get more money so they can go along with Othello and Desdemona to Cyprus. This shows that Roderigo is really nothing but a Gull.

8. Symbolism/recurring image/motifs
Repeating idea of deceive
Turks tricked the Duck and senetors
Desdemona betray her father
Iago lying to Roderido that he will help Roderigo to win Desdemona

9. Rhetorical & literary devices
Parallel structure
“What drugs, what charms, what conjuration and what mighty magic—” (P43, line 91)
Othello emphasize he married Dessdemona because of love, not posions, magic and temptation
“Of moving accidents by flood and field, of hair-breadth ’scapes i' th' imminent deadly breach, of being taken by the insolent foe” (P45, line 135)
Emphasize what Othello had gone through (as slave, in war)
“ ’twas strange, ’twas passing strange, 'twas pitiful, ’twas wondrous pitiful.”
Desdemona’s emotion towards Othello’s past

10. Rhetorical & literary devices
Metaphor
“The robbed that smiles steals something from the thief, he robs himself that spends a bootless grief.”
Brabantio as victim, something as Desdemona, Othello as thief
Simile
“Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners. So that if we will plant nettles or sow lettuce, set hyssop and weed up thyme, supply it with one gender of herbs or distract it with many—either to have it sterile with idleness, or manured with industry—why, the power and corrigible authority of this lies in our. ”
Person as gardener, body as garden, planet as emtion and desire, if the gardener don’t balance them, they are going to grow uncontrollable.

11. Rhetorical & literary device
Repetition
“Put money in thy purse”
Iago’s skill of manipulating people
Iago’s personality (greedy)
Roderigo’s personality/emotional state

12. Questions/issue
Is there a better way for Othello and Desdemona to get married ?(without anger Brabantio or let him discover after the marriage). If there is, how will it change the play ?
At the end of the scene, Roderigo was easily manipulated by Iago, is he foolish or just overwhelmed by the fact that Desdemona is married to Othello ?