Othello

1. Othello Summary: Act Two

2. Act 2, Scene 1 Setting: Cyprus • 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.

3. Act 2, Scene 2 Setting: Cyprus • Peace is restored in Cyprus. • 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. • 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.

4. Act 2, Scene 3 Setting: Castle – Cyprus • 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.

5. Act 2, Scene 3 (…continued) Setting: Castle – Cyprus • 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.