Othello summary

As the curtain opens on Act One, we’re dropped straight into a storm of scheming. At the center of it all is Iago – a master manipulator and ensign to the respected military general Othello. Iago is in league with Roderigo, a lovesick man desperate to win the heart of Desdemona, who has just secretly eloped with Othello.

As is typical of Shakespeare, he wastes no time establishing the central conflict, delivering a flurry of information right from the start to set the stakes. The gist? Iago is seething with resentment after being passed over for promotion. Othello, the general he serves, has chosen Cassio as his lieutenant instead. And now, fueled by bitterness, Iago is out for revenge.

In speaking with Roderigo, Iago is already plotting to hurt Othello by playing on Roderigo’s love for Desdimona and the racism of Desdimona’s father. You see, Othello is a noble Moor, meaning he is African, and Desdimona is of Venetian nobility. Iago wants to take full advantage of the potentially scandalous nature of their hasty marriage. So he is quickly at work spreading the word and stoking outrage.

After getting Roderigo worked up, Desdimona’s father, a senator by the name of Brabantio, is told that “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe.” And, in case that was too subtle, Iago goes on to inform him that “your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs!” Brabantio is indeed outraged, shuddering at the thought of how their marriage will turn “bond-slaves and pagans” into Venetian statesmen.

But Iago, ever the double-crosser, quickly changes face. After riling Brabantio into outrage, he turns around and plays the loyal soldier to Othello, pretending he tried to calm the senator down. We learn that, as a senator, Brabantio could make life very difficult for Othello, but the general doesn’t care. He loves Desdemona and believes his accomplishments and services will outweigh the senator's disapproval.

This more or less proves to be the case, because just before Brabantio confronts Othello – accusing him of bewitching his daughter and threatening to put him in jail – word arrives from Othello’s faithful lieutenant Cassio, that Turkish forces are threatening to attack Cyprus. 

To formally resolve their dispute, everyone goes to see the Duke. Othello testifies that there was no witchcraft involved. He simply regaled Desdemona with his tales of his remarkable journey – of being a former slave who went on to lead battles and find riches. The Duke is moved, remarking that even his own daughter might be won over by such a tale.

Desdemona eventually arrives and confirms that there was no coercion involved, and tells her unhappy father that she does indeed love Othello. The matter is promptly settled by the Duke, who then orders Othello to take care of business in Cyprus.

Othello then reveals his fondness for Iago by telling the Duke that he wishes to leave Desdemona in Iago’s care while he is at war with the Turks, for “a man he is of honesty and trust.” Then, curiously enough, just as Othello is exiting, Brabantio warns him not to look away from Desdemona, for “she has deceiv’d her father, and may thee.”

Before Act One draws to a close, Iago and Roderigo are once again alone, and Iago returns to his true, devilish nature. He tells the suicidal Roderigo to not give up hope in his love for Desdemona, for he believes the union with Othello will not last. As he puts it, the Moors are "changeable in their wills” and his wife will soon get bored with him. He promises Roderigo that there’s still a chance he might yet have the chance to cuckold Othello. 

As the cheered up Roderigo departs, Iago continues to scheme, turning to the audience and laying out the early stages of his master plan: to destroy Cassio, gain his position, and use Othello’s trust as the very tool to bring him down.