Key Themes

• 'In medias res’

  The play opens ‘in medias res’ (in the middle of action or dialogue).
• Introduction

  • As the opening scene, Act One Scene One introduces some fundamental aspects of Othello, including opening with an introduction to conflict and strife and familiarising the audience with the order of Venetian society contrasted with Iago’s chaotic deviance.
• ‘in medias res’

  • The play opens ‘in medias res’ (in the middle of action or dialogue), a structural technique used often by Shakespeare in other plays such as Hamlet, Macbeth and The Tempest.
• Purpose

  • This would help quieten the usually bawdy and loud Elizabethan audience, and immediately introduces notions of conflict and strife in the play.
  • It sets up the main element of conflict in the play, namely Iago’s resentment and cunning nature.
• Introduction to Venetian Society

  In Act One Scene One we see some key elements of Venetian society: racism, gender inequality, and the highly structured, militarised nature of society.
• Cassio and the military

  • The importance of reputation in military matters is reflected through Iago’s dismissal of Michael Cassio as a soldier who has ‘never set a squadron in the field’ with ‘mere prattle without practice’.
• Othello and the military

  • Instead of alluding to Othello’s honour and status, Iago and Roderigo speak about Othello in racial slurs - seeming to mock his appearance and sexual activity with his wife.
• Gender inequality

  • The gender inequality of Elizabethan society is exposed as Iago and Brabantio refers to Desdemona’s elopement as her being ‘robb’d’ by ‘thieves’, emphasising that women were perceived as the property of men.
• The Deviance of Iago

  In Act One Scene One the audience is introduced to Iago’s ability to psychologically manipulate others.
• Introduction

  • As the opening scene, Act One Scene One introduces some fundamental aspects of Othello, including opening with an introduction to conflict and strife and familiarising the audience with the order of Venetian society contrasted with Iago’s chaotic deviance.
• Psychological manipulation

  • Iago’s ability to psychologically manipulate others is presented here.
  • He influences Roderigo to provoke Brabantio and then incenses Brabantio’s anger and racial prejudices.
• Racism

  • Iago never directly names Othello in this scene – referring to him instead as a ‘Barbary horse’ or ‘devil’. Iago does not comment on Othello's status or might; he just talks about him in derogatory, racial slurs.
  • Iago's corrupt nature and diabolical treachery are early warning signs that he is not a character to be liked or trusted.