Othello
Act II KEY
NAME___________________________
1. Where does Act II, Scene I take place?
On the island of Cyprus, a colony of Venice at the time
2. What news does Othello bring regarding the Turks?
Othello announces that the Turkish fleet has been destroyed in the storm, and
the war is over.
3. How does Iago convince Roderigo that Cassio must be dishonored and
“removed”?
Iago convinces Roderigo that Desdemona will eventually tire of the Moor (Othello)
and look for another partner. Cassio is the logical choice.
His method of manipulation is to plant a detail in the mind of his victim, in this case
when Cassio touches Desdemona's hand. Iago will later use this technique on
Othello.
4. Explain how Iago engineered Cassio’s disgrace?
Iago convinced Roderigo that Cassio would likely be Desdemona's next partner, and
he could help "remove" Cassio by provoking a fight with him when Iago created the
occasion.
Iago then sets up a drinking party during the celebration of the Turkish defeat and
makes sure that Cassio gets drunk. When Roderigo attacks him, Cassio becomes
enraged. He even wounds Montano, who tries to break up the fight.
When the alarum sounds and Othello arrives, Iago pretends to "reluctantly" relate
the details of the incident. Othello angrily strips Cassio of his rank as lieutenant.
Already working on the next phase of his plot, Iago advises Cassio that he can win
back his position by entreating Desdemona to plead his cause with Othello.
Who said and what does it mean?
5. “Tis monstrous. Iago who began’t?”
Othello is awakened by the alarum bell during the fight between Cassio and
Roderigo. He asks Iago to explain the cause of the disturbance.
This quote has an interesting alternative meaning if the punctuation is removed.
("'Tis monstrous Iago who began't.")
6. “I love thee; but never more be officer of mine.”
After Iago "reluctantly" relates the circumstances of the fight, Othello dismisses
Cassio as his lieutenant.
7. “Out general’s wife is now the general…Confess yourself freely to her.”
Because Desdemona has such a strong influence on her husband, Iago advises
Cassio to enlist her help in order to be reinstated as lieutenant
8. “So will I turn her virtue into pitch, and out of her own goodness make the net
that shall enmesh them all.”
In a soliloquy, Iago explains how he will use Desdemona's goodness against her.
He has advised Cassio to ask Desdemona to intercede with Othello to reinstate him
as lieutenant, knowing that Desdemona will pity him and try to help him.
Meanwhile, Iago will plant the suspicion in Othello's mind that Desdemona pleads
for Cassio because she is attracted to him. He plans to use Desdemona's inherent
good nature to destroy all of them--Cassio, Desdemona, and Othello