Act 1, Scene 1: "Venice. Before Brabantio's house."
Roderigo, a gentleman of Venice, and Iago discuss their obedience to the Moor. Iago is bitter because Cassio was selected as Othello's Lieutenant instead of himself. He does not think he must be loyal to Othello, therefore, and plans to cause trouble. He only has faith in himself:
"Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago:
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 demonstrates
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." Act 1, Scene 1
The two men wake up Brabantio, an older senator, to tell him that his house has been robbed. As the disheartened Roderigo makes mention of his love for Brabantio's daughter, Iago makes crude remarks about his daughter stealing away with the Moor. Iago vows to himself that he hates Othello with all his might, but that he must present a façade of love in order to fully follow-through on his plan of destruction.
Brabantio comes down to the street to greet Roderigo alone. He declares that his daughter is, in fact, missing, and is most likely with the Moor. He expresses a wish that she were with Roderigo after all. He is miserable with the course of actions. "Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters' minds / By what you see them act. Are there not charms / By which the property of youth and maidenhood / May be abused?" Act 1, Scene 1
