Othello by William Shakespeare (Act 2 Scene 1-3, pg. 59-107)

Othello by William Shakespeare (Act 2 Scene 1-3, pg. 59-107)

Summary: In Act 2 Scene 1, Cassio, Desdemona, Othello, Iago, and Roderigo all arrive at Cyprus, and find out that the Turkish fleet they were to pursue was destroyed by a storm. Through a chain of events, Iago successfully convinces Roderigo that Desdemona is in love with Cassio, and that Roderigo should try to find a way to anger Cassio for an excuse to remove him. Act 2 Scene 2 is very brief and is simply a herald announcing Othello’s arrival. In Act 2 Scene 3, Iago manages to get Cassio drunk, and Roderigo provokes Cassio to fight him. When Montano tries to intervene, Cassio fights with Montano and injures him. Othello finds out about this and immediately strips Cassio of his lieutenancy. Iago then encourages Cassio to go to Desdemona in order to try to regain his position so that Iago can later go to Othello and tell him that Desdemona is supporting Cassio because she loves him.

Unfamiliar Vocabulary:

Descry: to catch sight of
Mortise: a hole or recess cut into a part, designed to receive a corresponding projection (a tenon) on another part so as to join or lock the parts together.
Egregious: outstandingly bad
Perdition: (in Christian theology) a state of eternal punishment and damnation into which a sinful and unpenitent person passes after death.
Nuptial: of or relating to marriage or weddings
Alarum: alarm
Horologe: a timepiece
Assay: determine the content or quality of (a metal or ore)

Character Analysis: Iago

Othello is currently the noble protagonist, Desdemona is the beautiful wife, and Roderigo is the wealthy suitor. However, by far, the most interesting character so far is Iago, the villain. The reader quickly develops a strong dislike for Iago, as he is both spiteful and devious, and fixed on making Othello’s life miserable. However, it is interesting that Iago is willing to take such drastic measures just to make Othello’s life harder. For example, he got Desdemona’s father involved to stir up conflict between him and Othello, he took up Roderigo’s offer to try to get him and Desdemona together (by breaking up Desdemona and Othello), he sailed to Cyprus to continue his attempts, and he got Cassio drunk to ultimately plant a potential seed of doubt in Othello’s mind about Desdemona’s faithfulness. He may have some ulterior motive for all of his actions, but at this point, it is still unclear.

I find it especially interesting that from a reader’s omniscient perspective, Iago seems so blatantly villainous, yet virtually all of the characters in Othello are unable to see his insincerity. Even as Iago plots against him, Othello says, “Iago is most honest,” and constantly refers to him as “Honest Iago.” When Iago professes that Cassio started the brawl, Othello turns to him and says, “I know, Iago, thy honesty and love doth mince this matter.” Furthermore, even as Iago tries to coax Cassio into a few drinks, Cassio calls him “good Iago.” Iago’s skillfulness in masking a glib tongue is egregiously admirable.