In act 1, Shakespeare explores the themes of love and jealousy.
Love connects Desdemona and Othello in an environment where their relationship is looked down upon, however, the emotions of love still overcome other people’s influence. Desdemona’s dad feels backstabbed and hurt that his daughter would choose to marry Othello, and Desdemona does not feel obliged to obey her father and chooses Othello instead “I am hitherto your daughter. But here’s my husband;” (1.3.183). A large portion of scene 3 is taken up by Othello explaining to everyone why Desdemona loves him for his epic tales and why he loves Desdemona for the pity she shows, not through witchery and bad magic as Brabantio suggests. “She loved me for the dangers I had passed, And I loved her that she did pity them” (1.3.166).
Jealousy drives Iago’s character and motivates all of his actions. Because Cassio got the promotion, Iago feels jealous “I am worth no worse a place” (1.1.11). All of Iago’s hatred for Othello stems from jelousy, and is what ultimately results in him creating the plan for him to manipulate Othello and ruin his relationship with Desdemona. Furtheremore, it is seen that Roderigo is jelous of Othello and loves Desdemona, and is what incentivises him to pay Iago to gather information about their relationship and motivate Iago to ruin it.
Other themes such as race, honesty, and manipulation are explored as well which give insight into the true intentions of each character.
Othello is presented as a moor by other characters, which shows how his ethnicity is the only thing they are concerned about. “Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago” (1.1.58)
Iago is presented as a noble and trustworthy worksman by Othello, however Iago displays himself to be evil hearted and manipulative. “I am not what I am” (1.1.66)
Generally, Desdemona is presented as a beautiful and caring woman by the characters in the play, however, her father Brabantio describes her as untrustworthy and deciteful “She has decieved her father and may thee” (1.3.289)
Cassio is presented as a weak undeserving character that is all talk and no walk which may give insight to how Iago is jelous of him “Forsooth, a great arithmetician” (1.1.19)