Act 1, Scene 1 - mrslivaudais.com

1 No Fear Shakespeare Othello (by SparkNotes, transcription by Alex Woelffer) -1- Original Text Modern Text act 1 , Scene 1 Enter RODMERIGO and IAGO RODERIGO and IAGO enter. RODERIGO Tush! Never tell me. I take it much unkindly That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this. RODERIGO Come on, don t tell me that. I don t like it that you knew about this, Iago. All this time I ve thought you were such a good friend that I ve let you spend my money as if it was yours. IAGO 'Sblood, but you ll not hear me! If ever I did dream of such a matter, abhor me. IAGO Damn it, you re not listening to me! I never dreamed this was happening if you find out I did, you can go ahead and hate me.

2 RODERIGO Thou told st me Thou didst hold him in thy hate. RODERIGO You told me you hated him. 10 15 20 25 IAGO Despise me If I do not. Three great ones of the city (In personal suit to make me his lieutenant) Off-capped to him, and by the faith of man I know my price, I am worth no worse a place. But he (as loving his own pride and purposes) Evades them with a bombast circumstance Horribly stuffed with epithets of war, And in conclusion Nonsuits my mediators. For Certes, says he, I have already chose my officer. And what was he? Forsooth, a great arithmetician, One Michael Cassio, a Florentine (A fellow almost damned in a fair wife) That never set a squadron in the field, Nor the division of a battle knows More than a spinster unless the bookish theoric, IAGO I do hate him, I swear.

3 Three of Venice s most important noblemen took their hats off to him and asked him humbly to make me his lieutenant, the second in command. And I know my own worth well enough to know I deserve that position. But he wants to have things his own way, so he sidesteps the issue with a lot of military talk and refuses their request. I ve already chosen my lieutenant, he says. And who does he choose? A guy who knows more about numbers then fighting! This guy from Florence named Michael Cassio. He has a pretty wife but he can t even control her. And he s definitely never commanded men in battle. He s got no more hands-on knowledge of warfare than an old woman unless you count what he s read in books, act 1 , Scene 1, Page 2 30 Wherein the toged consuls can propose As masterly as he.

4 Mere prattle without practice Is all his soldiership. But he, sir, had th' election And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof At Rhodes, at Cyprus, and on other grounds Christian and heathen, must be belee d and calmed By debitor and creditor. This counter-caster He (in good time) must his lieutenant be And I, bless the mark, his Moorship s ancient. which any peace-lover can do. His military understanding is all theory, no practice. But Cassio s been chosen over me. My career is cut short by some bookkeeper, even though the general saw my fighting skills first-hand in Rhodes and Cyprus. This accountant is now lieutenant, while I end up as the Moor s flag-bearer. 35 RODERIGO By heaven, I rather would have been his hangman.

5 RODERIGO By God, I d rather be his executioner. 40 IAGO Why, there s no remedy. 'Tis the curse of service. Preferment goes by letter and affection, And not by old gradation, where each second Stood heir to th' first. Now sir, be judge yourself, Whether I in any just term am affined IAGO And there s nothing I can do about it. That s the curse of military service. You get promoted when someone likes you, not because you re next in line. Now, you tell me: should I feel loyal to the Moor? No Fear Shakespeare Othello (by SparkNotes, transcription by Alex Woelffer) -2- Original Text Modern Text To love the Moor. RODERIGO I would not follow him then. RODERIGO If you don t like him you should quit.

6 45 50 55 IAGO O sir, content you. I follow him to serve my turn upon him. We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly followed. You shall mark Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave That (doting on his own obsequious bondage) Wears out his time much like his master s ass For naught but provender, and when he s old, cashiered. Whip me such honest knaves. Others there are Who, trimmed in forms and visages of duty, Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves And, throwing but shows of service on their lords, Do well thrive by them. And when they have lined their coats, Do themselves homage. These fellows have some soul, IAGO No, calm down. I m serving under him to take advantage of him.

7 We can t all be masters, and not all masters should be followed. Look at all the devoted servants who work for their masters their whole lives for nothing but their food, and then when they get old they re terminated. They ought to be whipped for being so stupid. But then there s another kind of servant who looks dutiful and devoted, but who s really looking out for himself. By pretending to serve their lords, these men get rich, and when they ve saved up enough they can be their own masters. Guys like that have soul, and that s the kind of guy I am. Let me tell act 1 , Scene 1, Page 3 60 65 And such a one do I profess myself. For, sir, It is as sure as you are Roderigo, Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago.

8 In following him, I follow but myself. Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty, But seeming so, for my peculiar end. For when my outward action doth demonstrate The native act and figure of my heart In compliment extern, tis not long after But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve For daws to peck at. I am not what I am. you, as sure as your name s Roderigo, if I were the Moor I wouldn t want to be Iago. I may seem to love and obey him, but in fact, I m just serving him to get what I want. If my outward appearance started reflecting what I really felt, soon enough I d be wearing my heart on my sleeve for birds to peck at. No, it s better to hide it. I m not who I appear to be. RODERIGO What a full fortune does the Thick-lips owe If he can carry t thus!

9 RODERIGO Thick-lips sure is lucky if he can pull this off! 70 75 IAGO Call up her father. Rouse him. Make after him, Poison his delight, Proclaim him in the streets. Incense her kinsmen, And, though he in a fertile climate dwell, Plague him with flies. Though that his joy be joy Yet throw such changes of vexation on t, As it may lose some color. IAGO Let s shout up to Desdemona s father, wake him, pester him, spoil his happiness, spread rumors about him in the streets, enrage his relatives, and irritate him endlessly. However real his happiness is, it will vanish in light of this. RODERIGO Here is her father s house, I ll call aloud. RODERIGO Here s her father s house. I ll call out.

10 IAGO Do, with like timorous accent and dire yell As when, by night and negligence, the fire Is spied in populous cities. IAGO Do it, and shout like the city s on fire. 80 RODERIGO What, ho, Brabantio! Signior Brabantio, ho! RODERIGO Hey, Brabantio! Signor Brabantio, hey! No Fear Shakespeare Othello (by SparkNotes, transcription by Alex Woelffer) -3- Original Text Modern Text IAGO Awake! What, ho, Brabantio! Thieves! Thieves! Look to your house, your daughter, and your bags! Thieves! thieves! IAGO Wake up, Brabantio! Wake up! Thieves! Thieves! Check on your daughter, your house, your money! Thieves! Thieves! Enter BRABANTIO, above BRABANTIO enters, above. act 1 , Scene 1, Page 4 85 BRABANTIO What is the reason of this terrible summons?