Act 1 Scene 1

• Who does Iago speak to about Othello's promotion in Act 1 Scene 1?

  Roderigo
• What is Iago's feeling towards Othello in Act 1 Scene 1?

  Iago feels resentment towards Othello for passing him up for promotion.
• What action do Iago and Roderigo take in response to Othello's promotion?

  They go to tell Brabantio about Desdemona’s elopement with Othello.
• How does Iago's xenophobia manifest in Act 1 Scene 1?

  Iago portrays Othello as abhorrent and evil, reducing him to his ethnicity by calling him a "Moor".
• What themes are introduced in Act 1 Scene 1 of Othello?

  • Conflict through profanity
  • Misogyny and patriarchal society
  • Xenophobia
  • Duplicity and manipulation
  • Critique of social hierarchy
  • Nature of evil and blasphemy
• What does Iago imply about Cassio's knowledge of battle with the quote “nor knows More than a spinster.”?

  Iago implies that Cassio's knowledge of battle is minimal.
• What does Iago's comment about Cassio reveal about his character?

  It reveals Iago's sexist nature and the patriarchal context of the play.
• What does the phrase “his Moorship’s ancient” indicate about Iago's view of Othello?

  It shows Iago's xenophobia by reducing Othello to his ethnicity.
• What does Iago mean by “I follow him to serve my turn upon him”?

  It indicates Iago's duplicity and his plan to pretend loyalty to Othello.
• How does the structure of the phrase “In following him, I follow but myself” emphasize Iago's character?

  The chiastic structure emphasizes his duplicity and egotistical nature.
• What social critique does Iago's line “We cannot all be masters, nor all master’s Cannot be truly follow’d” suggest?


  It questions the social system and implies that those in power may not deserve their positions.
• What does the quote “I am not what I am” reveal about Iago's character?

  It reveals his manipulative nature and foreshadows his malevolent side.
• How does Iago's allusion to the biblical phrase “I am what I am” contribute to his characterization?

  It suggests Iago sees himself as powerful as God, which would be abhorred by Jacobean society.
• What motif does Shakespeare use with the phrase “Poison his delight”?


  Poison is used as a motif to suggest that words can be more destructive than swords.
• What does the word “plague” connote in Iago's statement and how does it relate to his character?

  It connotes devastation and associates Iago with malevolence and blasphemy.
• How does the repetition of possessive pronouns regarding Desdemona reflect the treatment of women in the Jacobean era?

  It highlights that women were seen as owned by their fathers or husbands and lacked autonomy.