Montano tries to calm down an angry and drunk Cassio. In his absence, Iago gets Cassio drunk, and then persuades Roderigo to draw Cassio into a fight. Othello orders a general celebration and leaves to consummate his marriage with Desdemona. The party arrives in Cyprus to find that a storm has destroyed the Turkish fleet. By order of the Duke, Othello leaves Venice to command the Venetian armies against invading Turks on the island of Cyprus, accompanied by his new wife, his new lieutenant Cassio, his ensign Iago, and Iago's wife, Emilia, as Desdemona's attendant. Iago, still in the room, takes note of Brabantio's remark. She has deceived her father, and may thee' (Act I, Sc 3). The senate is satisfied once Desdemona confirms that she loves Othello, but Brabantio leaves, saying that Desdemona will betray Othello: 'Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see. Othello explains that, while he was invited to Brabantio's home, Desdemona became enamoured of him for the sad and compelling stories he told of his life before Venice, not because of any witchcraft.

Othello defends himself before the Duke of Venice, Brabantio's kinsmen Lodovico and Gratiano, and various senators. Brabantio has no option but to accompany Othello to the Duke's residence, where he accuses Othello of seducing Desdemona by witchcraft. News has arrived in Venice that the Turks are going to attack Cyprus, and Othello is therefore summoned to advise the senators. Meanwhile, Iago sneaks away to find Othello and warns him that Brabantio is coming for him.īrabantio, provoked by Roderigo, is enraged and seeks to confront Othello, but he finds Othello's residence full of the Duke of Venice's guards, who prevent violence. Iago tells Roderigo that he plans to exploit Othello for his own advantage and convinces Roderigo to wake Brabantio and tell him about his daughter's elopement. Iago hates Othello for promoting a younger man named Cassio above him, whom Iago considers a less capable soldier than himself.

Roderigo is upset because he loves Desdemona and had asked her father, Brabantio, for her hand in marriage. Roderigo, a wealthy and dissolute gentleman, complains to his friend Iago, an ensign, that Iago has not told him about the recent secret marriage between Desdemona, the daughter of Brabantio, a senator, and Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army. Illustration by Percy Anderson for Costume Fanciful, Historical and Theatrical, 1906 Act I

Othello by william shakespeare