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| Character | Othello | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Male | |
| Age Range(s) | Young Adult (20-35), Adult (36-50) | |
| Type of monologue / Character is | In love, Persuasive, Descriptive | |
| Type | Dramatic | |
| Period | Renaissance | |
| Genre | Tragedy, Drama | |
| Description | Othello tells the Duke how he won Desdemona's heart | |
| Location | ACT I, Scene 3 | |
Summary
The story is set in Venice. The play starts with Roderigo, a rich and foolish gentleman, complaining to Iago, a high ranking soldier, about Desdemona's secret marriage to a Moorish general in the Venetian army, Othello. Desdemona is Roderigo's love interest and he has been paying Iago to help him seduce her. Iago tells him he hates Othello since he didn't give him a promotion that he thought he deserved and instead gave it to another man.
Iago suggests to wake Desdemona's father, Brabanzio, and tell him about Othello's affair with his daughter. Brabanzio at first is skeptical but then believes them. He calls his men and goes out to get Othello. When he finds him, at first he accuses him of having stolen his daughter and "abused her delicate youth" and then orders his men to subdue him. He decides to solve the matter before the Duke of Venice.
They all go to a council chamber where the Duke is having a military meeting regarding the recent Turkish invasion of the island of Cyprus. They interrupt the meeting and Brabanzio addresses the Duke regarding Othello's secret marriage to his daughter. He claims that Othello has used some sinister "magic" to seduce her and steal her from him. The Duke, who admires Othello as a great military leader, gives him a chance to explain the matter. In this monologue Othello explains how he wood Desdemona and won her heart. He claims Brabanzio ofter invited him to his house to hear stories from his interesting and adventurous life. Desdemona overheard his stories and eventually asked him to tell her himself. Impressed and moved by his stories, she fell in love with him.
Iago suggests to wake Desdemona's father, Brabanzio, and tell him about Othello's affair with his daughter. Brabanzio at first is skeptical but then believes them. He calls his men and goes out to get Othello. When he finds him, at first he accuses him of having stolen his daughter and "abused her delicate youth" and then orders his men to subdue him. He decides to solve the matter before the Duke of Venice.
They all go to a council chamber where the Duke is having a military meeting regarding the recent Turkish invasion of the island of Cyprus. They interrupt the meeting and Brabanzio addresses the Duke regarding Othello's secret marriage to his daughter. He claims that Othello has used some sinister "magic" to seduce her and steal her from him. The Duke, who admires Othello as a great military leader, gives him a chance to explain the matter. In this monologue Othello explains how he wood Desdemona and won her heart. He claims Brabanzio ofter invited him to his house to hear stories from his interesting and adventurous life. Desdemona overheard his stories and eventually asked him to tell her himself. Impressed and moved by his stories, she fell in love with him.
Written by Administrator
| Excerpt |
|---|
| OTHELLO Her father loved me; oft invited me; Still question'd me the story of my life, From year to year, the battles, sieges, fortunes, That I have passed. I ran it through, even from my boyish days, To the very moment that he bade me tell it; Wherein I spake of most disastrous chances, Of moving accidents by flood and field Of hair-breadth scapes i' the imminent deadly breach, Of being taken by the insolent foe And sold to slavery, of my redemption thence And portance in my travels' history: Wherein of antres vast and deserts idle, Rough quarries, rocks and hills whose heads touch heaven It was my hint to speak,--such was the process; And of the Cannibals that each other eat, The Anthropophagi and men whose heads Do grow beneath their shoulders. This to hear Would Desdemona seriously incline: But still the house-affairs would draw her thence: Which ever as she could with haste dispatch, She'ld come again, and with a greedy ear Devour up my discourse: which I observing, Took once a pliant hour, and found good means To draw from her a prayer of earnest heart That I would all my pilgrimage dilate, Whereof by parcels she had something heard, But not intentively: I did consent, And often did beguile her of her tears, When I did speak of some distressful stroke That my youth suffer'd. My story being done, She gave me for my pains a world of sighs: She swore, in faith, twas strange, 'twas passing strange, 'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful: She wish'd she had not heard it, yet she wish'd That heaven had made her such a man: she thank'd me, And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her, I should but teach him how to tell my story. And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake: She loved me for the dangers I had pass'd, And I loved her that she did pity them. This only is the witchcraft I have used: Here comes the lady; let her witness it. |
