# Scene I explained — Othello

> Chapter companion for Othello by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

Roderigo confronts Iago about not being told of Desdemona's elopement with Othello. Iago reveals his hatred for Othello for promoting Cassio over him, and outlines his plan to serve Othello only for his own ends. They rouse Brabantio with crude, racist alarms about his daughter's marriage, and Brabantio, enraged, sets out to find and confront Othello.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance vs. Reality

Iago explicitly states his philosophy of appearing loyal while serving his own ends: 'I am not what I am.'

### Racism and Otherness

Iago and Roderigo use dehumanizing, racist language to describe Othello, calling him an 'old black ram' and a 'Barbary horse,' and Brabantio accuses him of witchcraft.

### Manipulation and Power

Iago manipulates Roderigo and Brabantio to further his own agenda, demonstrating his skill in controlling others through deceit.

## Character check-ins

### Iago

Expresses hatred for Othello and Cassio; reveals his duplicitous nature ('I am not what I am') and his plan to manipulate others for revenge.

### Roderigo

Upset that Iago kept Desdemona's elopement secret; helps Iago by alerting Brabantio to the marriage.

### Brabantio

Awakened by Iago and Roderigo; horrified to learn of Desdemona's elopement with Othello, which he views as betrayal and witchcraft.

### Michael Cassio

Mentioned by Iago as the newly appointed lieutenant, a 'great arithmetician' from Florence, whom Iago resents.

### Othello

Referenced as the Moor who married Desdemona; Iago and Roderigo describe him in racist terms, and Brabantio accuses him of using charms.

### Desdemona

Mentioned as having eloped with Othello; Brabantio laments her disobedience and suspects she was bewitched.

## Key lines

> I am not what I am.

I am not the honest person I appear to be.

_Iago reveals his core philosophy of deception to Roderigo._

> Even now, now, very now, an old black ram Is topping your white ewe.

Right this moment, a black ram is mating with your white ewe.

_Iago uses crude, racist imagery to shock Brabantio about Desdemona's elopement with Othello._

> Your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs.

Your daughter and the Moor are having sex.

_Iago crudely informs Brabantio of the consummation of Othello and Desdemona's marriage._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/othello_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/othello_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/othello_se/chapters