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 generals marriage and Iagos attempts
  to undermine it.)
• Cassio arrives in Cyprus, followed shortly after
  by Iago, Desdemona, Emilia and Roderigo.
• Cassio, courteous as always, takes Desdemonas
  hand and speaks with her privately for a moment.
  Iago notices and says that this little courtesy
  of Cassio taking Desdemonas 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 Iagos 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 Iagos
  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 Desdemonas 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, Iagos 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 Montanos 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 Iagos 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.