Othello: act I scene III, act II scenes I and II

In this part of the reading we come in on the senators and some other people discussing some information they have gotten about a possible attack on Cyprus by a Turkish fleet. When Othello enters they are all happy to see him and ready to put him to work, I think this is telling of how truly skilled and respected Othello really is I believe that if there was a guy that could do this job even half as well as Othello and was a white christian he would be the one they wanted at that point in time.

To Barbantio the fact that they addressed Othello first, saying "Valiant Othello, we must strait employ you against the general enemy Ottoman." (Act I Scene III lines 48-49), must have felt like a real slap in the face. All Barbantio got from them was, "I did not see you; welcome, gentle signior, we lack'd your counsel and your help to-night." (Act I Scene III lines 50-51). That's nothing compared to 'we desperately need you Othello thank goodness you're here.' In that time I'll assume that Barbantio felt very insulted at not being considered as important as a moor. After all, he is the rich, Catholic, white guy of the two.

As this scene goes on you can tell that the other senators and people present don't care about the 'justice' Barbantio wants. Weather or not they think what Desdemona did was wrong they want Othello off the hook because they need him to be ready and willing to fight the next day. You can see that from the way they are saying there isn't enough evidence before Barbantio even says all he has to say.

Othello says, "Her father lov'd me, oft invited me; still question'd me for the story of my life," (Act I Scene III lines 128-129). This shows that not only is Desdemona, the 'her' in this sentence, won over by Othello's stories but her father, Barbantio, is also. Barbantio probably inadvertently gave Othello the chance to make his daughter fall in love with him.

In this section of the book, the last scene of act I and the first two of act II, Iago points out certain traits in Othello and Roderigo. Othello he says, "is of a free and open nature," (Act I Scene III line 399). I took this to mean that Othello is honest and trusting. Othello shows that he is trusting, at least of Desdemona, when he says, "My life upon her faith!" (Act I Scene III line 294). Although this is not a bad trait I think it will make him susceptible to Iago's schemes. Iago  also thinks that Roderigo is just a fool that could be useful to him.

Iago shows that he does have at least one plan going at the end of Act II Scene I. He says while he is all alone, "Till I am even'd with him, wife for wife," (Act II Scene I line 299). Apparently Iago thinks that Othello has, "leap'd into my seat," (Act II Scene I line 296) with his wife and intends to take Desdemona from Othello or something similar.

Lastly, I think that the party Othello and Desdemona are having for their wedding will show that they only really got approval because the senators needed Othello so badly. I think the people there (if any come) won't really think it's right and it'll make things awkward.