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‘Othello is a calm, controlled, well respected general, husband to a passive Desdemona’. From your consideration of act one, how far would you agree with this description of Othello and Desdemona? Shakespeare’s protagonist Othello is an isolated black male playing an active role in Venetian society. Thus his behaviour and actions where highly scrutinised which ment Othello had to act in a ‘calm’ and ‘controlled’ manor other wise would have had to face exile from Venice. His relationship with Desdemona is central to the play as it is controversial as it is unconventional in Venetian society due to their different races. The reader’s first encounter with Othello is in act one scene two where Iago informs Othello that Roderigo has been spreading foul reports of Othello’s behaviour. Othello reacts in a calm and controlled manor by declaring “Let him do his spite: my service which I have done the signory shall out-tongue his complaints” which supports the statement. Othello’s reaction here so early on in the play is vital as it provides the audience with their first impressions that shapes there views on him. Later on in act two, Brabatio and his men with swords confront Othello. This is the first t