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READ THIS
A herald appears on the stage to announce that Othello has proclaimed an evening of festivities to
celebrate his marriage.
PURPOSE OF THE SCENE
The plot needs to move on apace.
Shakespeare has managed to set up the plot so that Othello has escaped imprisonment for eloping with
Brabantio's daughter, Desdemona.
The war with the Ottomites brought about that very thing, and then also managed to bring Othello to
Cyprus where he would become isolated and fall under Iago's control.
The play, however, needs to move quickly to reach this next plot. Iago needs a means by which he can
work his evil. An evening of festivities will do the trick.
Alcohol will be available in abundance and everyone will be off-guard, celebrating. It becomes easy,
therefore, for Iago to trap Michael Cassio into drinking too much, which in turn makes him vulnerable to
an attack from Roderigo.
Have you looked at the questions
in the right column?
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TEST YOURSELF!
Read the left column and then answer
the following questions:
"Enter a Herald reading a proclamation."
[Need help?]
In the old days before our modern radios and television, news announcements were made by means of
a Herald. He was usually dressed in distinctive garb and would walk around the town shouting important
announcements. Sometimes he would have a bell to attract attention.
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- What is his function in this Herald? (2)
[Need help?]
The Herald has the function of announcing the movement of time. Othello has just arrived but now there
needs to be a passing of time for the next plot to take place. The Herald tells the audience how much time
has elapsed and in which part of the plot we now are.
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- What is the purpose of this very short scene? (4)
[Need help?]
The play needs to move quickly to reach the next plot. Iago needs a means by which he can work his evil.
An evening of festivities will do the trick.
Alcohol will be available in abundance and everyone will be off-guard, celebrating. It becomes easy,
therefore, for Iago to trap Michael Cassio into drinking too much, which in turn makes him vulnerable to
an attack from Roderigo.
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