ACT+1

Summary of Act 1 A breakdown of Othello in terms you can understand-  Scene 1- The play begins with the readers first encounter with Iago. Iago is the villain and the antagonist of the story. Full of trickery, Iago is a snake like character, but his wit makes him a character you love to hate. In the first scene readers also encounter Roderigo who is talking with Iago about Othello. Roderigo is a fool and the perfect chess piece in Iago's plan. The two conspire together because of their separate reasoning for hating Othello. As the play begins, Iago is peeved that Othello has passed him up for promotion, and Roderigo is ticked at Othello for marrying Desdemona, the woman he loves. In order to retaliate against Othello, Iago and Roderigo travel to the house of Brabantio, Desdemona's father and a famous senator. The two call up to Brabantio, and they claim that he has been robbed. They also break the news to the senator that his daughter is married to Othello. At first, Brabantio refuses to acknowledge these claims because Roderigo has been hanging around his house looking to marry Desdemona. Then, after the persistence of Roderigo, Brabantio discovers that Desdemona is not present. By this time, Iago has left in order to remain "loyal" to Othello. (He is really just covering himself from blame in the end.) As the scene comes to a close, Brabantio is telling Roderigo to get together a group of armed men to find Othello. 

Scene 2- Iago and Othello begin this scene in conversation. Iago, again fooling those around him, is telling Othello that Brabantio has somehow discovered the marriage between Desdemona and Othello. The two hear people approaching, and Cassio and other officers enter. Cassio is the soldier who was awarded the promotion that Iago wanted. The duke sent Cassio to bring Othello to him; there is a fear that the Turks are attacking Cyprus. Just as the party is about to depart to see the duke, Brabantio and his mob enter Othello's house. Brabantio rants to Othello, telling him he is a thief and he will pay for putting a spell on his daughter. (Brabantio believes there is no way Desdemona could have fallen in love with Othello without some sort of trickery.) Othello says that the Duke needs him on urgent business and consequently Brabantio agrees to go see the Duke who will solve this problem for good. 

Scene 3- The Duke and his senators are in a meeting concerning Cyprus, the land that the Turks are threatening. Many reports about the position of the Turkish fleet come in during the scene. After some discussion, Brabantio and Othello enter. The Duke greets them merrily, assuming that everything is normal and both are arriving to his counsel. Brabantio interrupts this "war-room" atmosphere, saying that no matter what affairs the Duke has with foreign states the ones that Brabantio are facing are far worse. He cries out, "My daughter! Oh, my daughter!" (i.iii) The Duke assures Brabantio that whoever has stolen his daughter from him will pay for his actions. Brabantio then accuses Othello of the crimes. Because the duke does not want to lose his top general, Desdemona is summoned to tell where her loyalty lies. While she is fetched, Othello relates how the pair fell in love without the use of magic or spells. When Desdemona finally arrives, she tells the whole crowd that her loyalty indeed lies with Othello. The Duke's praises of Othello are not enough for Brabantio, who remains bitter about the marriage he views as scandalous and shaming. Othello and the Duke quickly meet in order to discuss Cyprus. All present deem it necessary that Othello leaves immediately to aid in the defense of Cyprus. Desdemona asks that she be able to follow Othello to Cyprus for she wishes not to be separated from her lover. The scene ends with a parallel to the start of Act 1, Roderigo and Iago discussing in private. Yet again, Iago convinces Roderigo to be a part of his vicious plan.