Act Two Summary

 The Gentlemen reports that the storm, “hath so bang’d the Turks/ That their designment halts. A noble ship of Venice/ Hath seen a grievous wreck and sufferance/ On most part of their fleet” (II.i.21-24).  Cassio’s ship has docked, yet Othello’s ship is still at sea.  Montano is concerned for Othello: “Prays the Moor be safe, for they were parted/ With foul and violent tempest” (II.i.32-33).

 When Cassio is asked by Montano if Othello is married, he replies, “He hath achieved a maid/ The paragons description and wild fame;/ One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens,/ And in the essential vesture of creation/ Does tire ingener” (II.i61-65).  Iago, Desdemona, Roderigo, and Emilia all arrive in Cyprus safely.  When asked by Desdemona to describe her, Iago replies, “she be fair and wise, fairness and wit,/ The one’s for use, the other useth it” (II.i ).  Cassio describes Iago as someone who, “speaks home, madam. You may relish him more in the/ soldier than in the scholar” (II.i.163).

 Iago states in an aside, “With as little a web as this will I ensare as great a fly as/ Cassio.” (II.i )  Iago is pleased that Cassio is such a gentleman where Desdemona is concerned… he plans to use this to eventually have Cassio removed from his position.  Once Othello arrives saftely, he states to Desdemona, “If it were now to die,/ ‘Twere now to be most happy” (II.i ). Tempting fate?  Iago states, again in an aside, “I’ll set down the pegs that make music,/ As honest as I am” (II.i ). He will control Othello soon.  Othello reports that, “Our wars are done; the Turks are drown’d” (I.ii.198). The Turkish fleet was destroyed by the storm.

 Iago, continuing to string Rodergio along, tells him that, “Desdemona is directly/ in love with him [Cassio]” (II.i ).  Iago explains that Desdemona is not longer sexually satisfied with Othello and therefore is seeking another… Cassio: “When the blood is made dull with the act of sport, there/ should be, again to inflame it and give satiety a fresh/ appetite” (II.i ).  Roderigo is surprised, as he believes Desdemona to be “of most blessed/ condition” (II.i ).  Iago explains that Cassio’s action of kissing Desdemona’s hand was an act of lechery.

 Iago’s plan is to have Roderigo anger Cassio so that a fight ensues as he believes that the fight will, “cause these of Cyprus to mutiny” (II.i.264), and Cassio will be fired – thus Roderigo will be with Desdemona.  Roderigo agrees, only if Iago can, “bring it to any opportunity” (II.i.270).  We finally see why Iago is so content on ruining Othello’s marriage: “I do suspect the lusty Moor/ Hath leap’d into my seat” (II.i ) and his is “partly led to diet my revenge” (II.i.282).  Iago hopes that he can make Cassio appear lustful and earn Othello’s trust.

 Othello has called for a night of celebration, not only for the defeat of the Turkish army, but also for his wedding, “every man put himself into/ triumph; some to dance, some to make bonfires, each man to/ what sport and revels his addiction leads him” (II.ii.3-5).

 Once again, Iago is described by Othello as honest. (Irony)  Iago wants Cassio to go and drink more wine with him, but Cassio admits that, “I have very poor and unhappy/ brains for drinking” (II.iii.29-30).  Iago knows that he must get Cassio drunk in order to provoke him to fight Roderigo.  When Cassio returns with Montano he states, “they have given me a rouse already” (II.iii.57).

 To serve his agenda further, Iago tells Montano “I fear the trust Othello puts him in,/ On some odd time of his infirmity” (II.iii ).  Montano thinks that Othello is either unaware of Cassio’s drinking problem, or “Prizes the virtue that appears in Cassio/ And looks not on his evils” (II.iii ).  Cassio and Roderigo enter again fighting. The alarum bell sounds and Othello enters and states, “He that stirs next to carve for his own rage/ Holds his soul light; he dies upon his motion” (II.iii ).  Othello states that, “he had twinn’d with me, both at a birth/ Shall lose me” (II.iii ).

 Iago is asked to explain what happened, he explains that, “I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth/ Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio” (II.iii ).  Iago saw a, “fellow crying out for help,/ And Cassio following him with determined sword” (II.iii ).  Othello responds, “Cassio, I love thee;/ But never more be officer of mine” (II.iii ).  One of Shakespeare’s more famous lines comes next, Cassio cries: “Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my/ reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what/ remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation!” (II.iii )  Iago’s response: “I thought you has received some/ bodily wound. There is more sense in that than in reputation./ Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got/ without merit and lost without deserving” (II.iii ).

 Cassio explains that he does not know what the fight was about: “I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly” (II.iii )  Iago suggests that Cassio seek the help of Desdemona, “Confess yourself freely/ to her; importune her help to put you in your place again” (II.iii ).  The next step of Iago’s plan is to turn Desdemona’s “virtue into pitch” (II.iii.331).  Iago will arrange for Cassio and Desdemona to meet and then convince Othello that the two are secretly lovers: “Myself the while to draw the Moor apart/ And bring him jump when he may Cassio find/ Soliciting his wife” (II.iii ).