OTHELLO NOTES - ACT TWO
ACT 2 SCENE 1
This act begins dramatically with a storm. The Turkish fleet has been
destroyed. Montano and others await the arrival of Othello in Cyprus.
Everyone speaks well of “brave Othello”.
Cassio praises the “divine Desdemona” (73) highly:
...he hath achieved a maid
That paragons description and wild fame;
(61-2)
Shakespeare’s language highlights the equality of D & O, when C refers to D
as “our great captain’s captain” (74).
We see Cassio’s chivalrous manners when he kisses Emilia’s hand. D is
anxious for O’s safety, so passes the time chatting to Iago, who reveals his
low opinion of women in his lewd jokes. Cassio by contrast always behaves
in a courtly manner, which Iago will use to trap him.
Othello’s joy is overpowering when reunited with D:
...O, my soul’s joy,
If after every tempest come such calms,
May the winds blow till they have waken’d death
(177-9)
Shakespeare uses dramatic irony, when Othello suggests he is now at his
happiest, which hints that things will go downhill from this point:
...If it were now to die,
‘Twere now to be most happy;
(182-3)
Iago unfolds his plan to Roderigo, telling him that Desdemona is already
unfaithful to Othello with Cassio. Though gullible, Roderigo cannot believe ill
of Desdemona.
In his soliloquy at the end of this scene Iago reveals that he does believe
Othello is “of a constant, loving, noble nature” (278), but he also believes he
(and Cassio too) has slept with his wife. Therefore, Iago seeks revenge,
planning to use Cassio to manipulate Othello:
...I will put the Moor
At least into a jealousy so strong
That judgement cannot cure.
(289-90)
ACT 2 SCENE 2
Short scene announces public holiday ordered by Othello to celebrate triumph
over Turkish fleet and his own marriage.
amkh
2010
OTHELLO NOTES - ACT TWO
ACT 2 SCENE 3
Othello entrusts the watch to Cassio, his friend (Michael). He goes with
Desdemona to bed (for the first time – to consummate their marriage).
The contrast between Iago’s lewdness and Cassio’s chivalry is highlighted as
they talk of Desdemona. Cassio counters every suggestive remark from Iago
with a polite one of his own:
Iago
And I’ll warrant her full of game.
Cassio
Indeed she is most fresh and delicate creature.
(18-19)
We learn of Cassio’s weak head for alcohol, which Iago exploits to get him
drunk and then into a fight with Roderigo and then Montano. Cassio becomes
aggressive when drunk. Roderigo cries ‘mutiny’ and the alarm bell is rung.
Othello is roused from his bed and demands to know who started the fight.
He is angry and his language becomes impassioned, foreshadowing his lack
of control later in the play:
...Now, by heaven
My blood begins my safer guides to rule,
(188-9)
Iago pretends to defend Cassio, but eventually names Cassio as the
instigator and Othello dismisses him from his service.
Desdemona appears and Othello returns to bed.
Cassio is deeply upset by his loss of position and reputation. Iago dismisses
his concerns, persuading Cassio to approach Desdemona to get his job back.
Cassio is grateful to ‘honest Iago’ for his advice, but in the soliloquy which
follows it is clear that he means to use Desdemona’s influence with Othello to
destroy them all:
So will I turn her virtue into pitch,
And out of her own goodness make the net
That shall enmesh them all.
(338-40)
Iago’s plan, like a spider’s web, will trap not just one but many victims.
Shakespeare’s image emphasises the power of Iago’s evil trap.
Like scene one, this scene ends with Iago and Roderigo, but he has now had
enough and returns to Venice.
Iago now plans to bring Emilia, his wife, into his evil plan.
amkh
2010