Othello Act 2 Presentation

Shakespeare's Work

Epithets

• Iago's couplet in Scene 1 is very dark and scheming. This dark mood is made stronger by the storm at the beginning of Act II. It is mentioned several times and could be seen as a symbol of hard times, conflict and danger.
• The dramatic purpose of Othello's late entrance in Scene 1 is to add suspense and also to build to his character.
• The proclamation in Scene 2 identifies Othello’s public/professional role as being a noble and valiant general who has had lots of success in the battles, and then his private role as marrying Desdemona and having lots of festivities for his wedding.
• Shakespeare changes from verse to prose in Scene 3 to show a serious change in attitude from going from relaxed to becoming more serious since Cassio and Iago are discussing important matters.
• Example of a paradox, by Iago:
• She never yet was foolish that was fair

For even her folly helped her to an heir

• Example of a pun and an epigram (a short poem or witty remark), by Iago:
• If she be black, and thereto have a wit

She'll find a white that shall her blackness fit

Roderigo

• "The warlike moor" - the third gentleman - appropriate because the Moor gained his rank and reputation during the war.
• "Brave Othello" - Montana - appropriate because he was in war and a slave and showed bravery throughout.
• "Valiant Cassio" - Desdemona - not that appropriate because Cassio never shows courage
• "Divine Desdemona" - Cassio - appropriate because she is a faithful wife and never thought about being unfaithful.
• "Bold Iago" - Cassio - somewhat appropriate because he takes big risks trying to deceive Othello.
• "The lusty Moor" - Iago - appropriate because Othello is very strong and healthy.
• "The virtuous Desdemona" is appropriate because she is pure of body and thought.
• "Honest Iago" - Othello - not appropriate because he is anything but honest he lies constantly to everyone to try and get what he wants.

• Roderigo being gullible - Iago easily convinces Roderigo that Desdemona and Cassio are in love with each other, and they are a much better fit for each other than Desdemona and Othello are.
• Roderigo previously thought Desdemona was very moral and that her and Cassio were just being polite. However, Iago is so adamant about his belief that Desdemona and Cassio are together, that Roderigo quickly believes Cassio and agrees to help him in his subterfuge, as long as Iago will help him later.
• Roderigo went after Cassio to tell him to do his job of standing guard, which greatly annoyed Cassio.

Desdemona

Othello

The Three Kisses in Act 2

• When Desdemona joins the conversation, Iago continues to make crude and rude comments about women. This seems to be a domestic strife between him and Emilia but also as a class tension as he feels inferior. This is covered up though as if he is just trying to make friendly banter.

• Cassio kisses Emilia as a courtesy, so he tells Iago to not be jealous, but Iago feels the need to be jealously protective, saying that if Emilia kissed Cassio as intensely as she kissed Iago, Cassio would get sick of her.
• Cassio also kisses Desdemona’s fingers, in a flirting manner, and Iago sort of makes fun of him, saying that he wishes the fingers were enema pipes, which are used to clean and flush out body organs.
• Othello kisses Desdemona when he returns from his voyage, since he is incredibly happy to see her. Iago remarks to himself that this happiness won’t last long because he plans to ruin their happiness with his honesty.

• Othello is mentioned several times in lines 1-59. These comments typically seem to be praise made by common people and other soldiers.
• When Othello says "Iago is most honest", after the dramatic irony of Iago secretly vowing to drive Othello "even to madness", the audience would feel irritated by Othello’s comments because Iago is actually dishonest and plans to ruin Othello.
• Othello calls Cassio by his first name, Michael, to show that Othello sees Cassio as a friend.
• Four factors that contribute to Othello's rage are: he just got back from a dangerous journey at sea, he was taken away from Desdemona, it is his friend who is in trouble, and people are fighting each other when war was just avoided.
• When Othello says "passion having my best judgement collied (blackened like coal)", he means that his emotions are overcoming his judgement and that his emotion will be negative.
• Iago lies to Othello about Cassio's beavior and acts as if he does not want to betray Cassio, which leads Othello to not be on Cassio's side because Othello believe that Iago is a good man and he will tell the truth because of his reluctance to answer.

Othello Act 2

Presentation

Iago

Cassio (cont.)

Iago (cont.)

• Cassio being drunk is showed through his repetition of phrases such as “Fore God” and “there be souls”.
• Cassio does not show a less attractive side of himself because he keeps his manners and wits about him, even when intoxicated, by saying, “Gentlemen, let’s look to our business. Do not think, gentlemen that I am drunk.”

• Cassio sees reputation as everything, so a man without it is worth nothing and can not be trusted, while Iago sees it as pointless and something you can gain and lose without reason.
• Cassio sees women as modest and reserved but Iago sees women as provocative and inviting.

Cassio vs. Iago

Cassio

• Iago's view on Othello and Desdemon's relationship:
• he thinks that Desdemona will get tired of Othello and just having sex, and she’ll want someone who is more attractive and closer in age, status, and manner
• he thinks that Othello’s stories are made up and that Desdemona will get so sick of him that she’ll need a clever bad boy like Cassio.
• Iago describes Cassio as being a very clever, young, and attractive man, who can smooth talk anyone with his bad boy charm. While he is young and attractive and perhaps very sophisticated, Iago makes him out to be much more cunning and lustful than he really is, in order to convince Roderigo that Cassio has already made Desdemona fall in love with him.

Villain honest thinking

Win subdue framed free

Baptism redeemed care

Unmake play villain

Cancel Hells devils

Suggest honest fortune

Pleads pestilence

lust strives credit

virtue goodness enmesh

• Two somewhat false roles that Iago plays are the role of Othello’s faithful standard-bearer and the role of a trusting husband.
• Iago is often referred to as being honest, which would annoy the audience because of the dramatic irony that Iago’s actions are seen in such a positive light when he is actually being mischievous.
• Love vs. Sex - Iago is vengeful towards Othello and Cassio because he thinks they both slept with his wife. He states this by saying “I do suspect the lusty Moor hath leaped into my seat” and “I fear Cassio with my nightcap too”. His references to love include him saying he does think Cassio loves Desdemona and how it’s likely that she loves him back, how he loves Desdemona, but not just in a sexual way, and how he wants to trick Othello into loving him.

Bare bones Script of Iago's Soliloquy, using key words:

• Cassio often describes Desdemona and compares her to fire, also mentioning her extreme beauty. This praise does seem to be exaggerated and over done.
• Cassio's personality seems loyal and happy. His loyalty is shown when he says, "My hopes, not surfeited to death, / stand in bold cure."
• Cassio's behavior can be interpreted as a little too flirty. This is evident when he is talking intimately with Desdemona. This causes Iago to comment on how close they're standing and how Cassio holds Desdemona's hand making him think Cassio loves Desdemona.

This condensed version of Iago's soliloquy reveals that a man who appears honest is not always as honest as he seems. My interpretation if this bare bones script comes from finding the word I found most important word from each line. This soliloquy is also him admitting that he is a villain.

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