Act One Scene Two Questions

Act One, Scene Two

1. Thoughts on Othello

Very confident and authoritive.

“keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them”.

This quote demonstrates Othello’s confidence because he is in a dangerous situation, doesn’t show any fear and asserts his authority over the other men through his tone. This also demonstrates how well respected Othello is because all of the men listen to him and do not fight him.

Remains calm.

“The goodness of the night upon you, friends! What is the news?

This quote demonstrates how calm Othello is because Iago has just told him that lots are people are angry with him and the fact that he’s married Desdemona and although Cassio is not one of them, Othello doesn’t know this when he is first approached by Cassio and he still remains calm. This also shows Othello’s intelligence because he doesn’t see fighting as necessary, whereas Iago does.

2. How does Othello respond to Iago’s baiting?

He doesn’t really react.

“’Tis better as it is”

This demonstrates that Othello is more intelligent than Iago because he doesn’t see the need to get angry or lose his temper with what Iago has just told him and therefore doesn’t give Iago the reaction he wants from him.

3. How does Brabanito react upon meeting Othello?

He accuses Othello of theft.

“Down with him, thief!”

This demonstrates how both Iago and Brabanito view Desdemona as a possession to own, it highlights the patriarchal views of the society at this time. Brabanito is not happy that his daughter has gotten married behind his back and because she is a woman, she is seen to not be capable of making her own decisions which is why Brabanito is angry with Othello as he believes Othello has forced her into this.

Brabanito is also highly racist to Othello.

“thou hast enchanted her”

“Abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals”

The racist views towards black people in this society are shown through the way Othello is spoken to by Brabanito. Because Othello is black, Brabanito finds it impossible to believe that Desdemona could find him attractive and therefore accuses him of drugging her or putting some kind of spell on her so that she would marry him. Therefore showing the racist views of society believing that black people are evil and that people could not freely fall in love with them.

4. How does Othello react to Brabanito’s charges?

Othello again, demonstrates how he remains calm.

“Hold your hands….Where will you that I go to answer this your charge?”

He demonstrates his honourable nature by remaining calm and asking where he can go to answer to Brabanito’s charges. By doing this he shows that he is a man of magnitude because he doesn’t see fighting as necessary because there is a better way to get the right conclusion and he wants a chance to explain himself because fighting would just make him look worse  in this situation.

Also, he threatens Brabanito.

“Where it my cue to fight, I should have known it without a prompter.”

He is saying that if he wanted to fight, he would have and he would’ve won against them all. This is a threat to Brabanito because he is showing that he is of an important position and he would be able to fight if he wanted to. He chooses not to because he doesn’t see the need and, by doing this, he hasn’t given Iago the reaction that he wants in this situation.