Othello
Summary: Act Two
Act 2, Scene 1
Setting: Cyprus
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The Turkish fleet is destroyed by the storm (the storm is a device
used by Shakespeare to dispose of the Turkish threat, which is no
longer necessary to the plot as the focus of Othello is to be the
general’s marriage and Iago’s attempts to undermine it.)
Cassio arrives in Cyprus, followed shortly after by Iago,
Desdemona, Emilia and Roderigo.
Cassio, courteous as always, takes Desdemona’s hand and speaks
with her privately for a moment. Iago notices and says that this
little courtesy of Cassio taking Desdemona’s hand will be enough
of a web to “ensnare as great a fly as Cassio”.
Othello arrives in Cyprus and speaks of his love for Desdemona.
Iago involves Roderigo in his plan to discredit Cassio by convincing
him to provoke Cassio into losing his temper later that evening and
force Othello to remove his from his position as lieutenant.
Iago is left alone onstage and offers us further insight into his
motives and his desire for revenge on Othello.
Act 2, Scene 2
Setting: Cyprus
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Peace is restored in Cyprus.
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In this short scene, Othello declares that a night of celebration is to
be held to celebrate the demise of the Turkish fleet and to
celebrate his recent marriage to Desdemona.
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Remember that, at this point, the audience are privy to Iago’s plan
(dramatic irony) and these plans for celebration are somewhat
tainted by our knowledge that trouble lurks around the corner and
our eagerness to see what becomes of Iago’s scheming.
Act 2, Scene 3
Setting: Castle – Cyprus
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Othello instructs Cassio to make sure the festivities are kept under
control as he leaves to consummate his marriage with Desdemona. Cassio
agrees, and both men agree that ‘honest’ Iago is both capable and reliable.
Iago praises Desdemona’s beauty while hinting that she might be a
seductress. Cassio agrees she is beautiful, but believes her to be modest.
Iago urges Cassio to relax, enjoy the festivities and drink some more wine,
which the lieutenant reluctantly agrees to.
When Cassio steps outside to call in some of the revellers, Iago’s aside
reveals his intention to get him drunk as it will make it easier to provoke
him into fighting. His plan unfolds as he intended with a drunk Cassio
ending up in a confrontation with Roderigo, who Iago has driven into the
to antagonise the lieutenant.
Meanwhile, Montano, the governor, has arrived and Iago has told him that
Cassio has a problem with drinking – a claim which seems to be confirmed
as he has to step in to diffuse the confrontation between Cassio and
Roderigo.
Cassio injures Montano during the incident and Iago encourages Roderigo
to cause further trouble by running about town crying ‘Mutiny!’. An alarm
bell rings and Othello arrives.
Act 2, Scene 3 (…continued)
Setting: Castle – Cyprus
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Othello demands to know what has happened but Iago, pretending to be
loyal to Cassio, is reluctant to say. Cassio is too ashamed to speak but
Montano, wounded and breathless, tells Othello that Iago knows the truth.
With pretended reluctance, it is left to Iago to recount the story to an
increasingly angry Othello, and he promptly acts by dismissing Cassio from
his post and protectively dismissing Desdemona, who has just arrived, back
to bed as he deals with his military duties.
Othello promises to have Montano’s wounds tended to and leaves Iago in
charge of restoring order. He exits, leaving Cassio and Iago on stage.
The disgraced Cassio laments the shame of losing his honourable
reputation, and is perfectly vulnerable to Iago’s suggestion that he use
Desdemona to convince Othello to reinstate him – thus allowing Iago to
set the next part of his plan in motion.
Roderigo enters, angry that he has been beaten by Cassio, given Iago all his
money, but does not have Desdemona. Iago tells him to be patient, as he
still needs Roderigo in his plans.
Roderigo exits. Iago addresses the audience, outlining his plan: he will get
his wife to set up a private meeting between Cassio and Desdemona, then
make sure that Othello observes this meeting.