Othello's Opening Scene: What Effect Does Shakespeare Want to Have on His Audience?

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  • Topic: Othello, Iago, Brabantio
  • Pages : 2 (656 words )
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  • Published : January 6, 2013
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Have you ever watched a drama that immediately submerges the audience in the opening scene? Yes? No? Shakespeare used this technique in Othello, but why? What effect does he want this opening scene to have on the audience? Keep them interested in his story.

Of course, all composers and writers want their readers to read on, want to attract their attention, even Shakespeare. Shakespeare wants to put audience in the scene, in the play. Let the audience be a part of the play by submerging the audience in the deception via Iago’s speech from the opening scene. He makes the audience feel like being a passer- by in the street of Venice. They hear the argument between Iago and Roderigo. Then follow them to Brabantio like paparazzi. Shakespeare keeps the audience stick to the story. I think this is the effect he wants to have on the audience by making them feel like a part of the play, like they are not audience, but one of the actor which is unseen.

Shakespeare has brought the audience into his play. He piques audience’s curiosity and makes the audience yearn or have a desire to continue watch his play.

“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.”

Said Roderigo at the beginning in an urgent tone. This makes a sense of emergency, actually almost the whole scene is quite intense. This is also how Shakespeare piques the audience’s curiosity and their attention; keep them from falling asleep.

By bringing the audience into the scene, to the street of Venice immediately and hear the whole conversation between Iago and Roderigo, the audience learn what is about the story. Unlike the other plays and dramas, Shakespeare does not use reverse chronology, but let the audience know what is happening in the story at the beginning. From the opening scene, the audience can know that Roderigo has paid Iago to spy on Othello because Roderigo wishes to take...
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