1. Title: Othello: Act 2 Sc 1 L.O: Storm Imagery and the Role of Women
1. What is your impression of Cassio from Act 1? What do you expect from him in Act 2?
2. What do you think attitudes to women were like during Shakespearean times and why?

2. Let’s Read! Montano Three Gentlemen Cassio Desdemona Iago Emilia
Othello
Roderigo

3. Key points In pairs Identify 5 key points of this scene Then
Add your reaction to this scene in the play
Consider how it made you feel

4. Key points The Turkish fleet is destroyed by the storm
Cassio arrives in Cyprus, followed shortly after by Iago, Desdemona, Emilia and Roderigo.
Iago notices the little courtesy of Cassio taking Desdemona’s hand (enough of a web to “ensnare as great a fly as Cassio”.)
Othello arrives = speaks of his love for Desdemona.
Iago convinces Roderigo 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.

5. Storms Watch – Think – List– Share Watch the clip
Think about the symbolic nature of storms
Write a list of things storms symbolise
Feedback to class

6. Storms In Shakespeare
What is the significance of the storm in this scene?
Does the storm act as a metaphor? How?
P.Q.E responses
3 sentences min each
Possible points:
the storm is a symbol of unrest
The storm marks the end of the peaceful part of the play, and is an act of fate
it is a signal that Iago's mischievous plan is about to begin.

7. Cassio How do other characters view him?
What does Cassio say that creates this impression?
How do other characters view him?
What is your impression of Cassio?

8. Key points: Cassio
Cassio has a very polished, courtly way of speaking, especially of ladies.
Desdemona
"excels the quirks of blazoning pens“
"divine Desdemona"
As Iago finds out later, he has no love for her, though much respect; so it is with much irony that Cassio is charged as being Desdemona's lover
Othello sees Cassio as a model Venetian, all poise and polish, which is something Othello wants to be, but thinks he is not.
Othello's insecurities mean that Cassio is promoted over Iago, but also lead Othello to hold Cassio at a distance.

9. Homework – character maps
What does he/she say that creates this impression?
How do other characters view him/her?
What is your impression of him/her?

10. The Role of Women
Contrast Iago’s and Cassio’s treatment of women.

11. Analysis: Women
Though Iago is married, he does not have as favorable an impression of women as Cassio does.
Women are "wildcats in your kitchens, saints in your injuries, devils being offended“
He even declares that they "rise to play, and go to bed to work“
Iago's perception of women as deceptive, dominating, and lusty influences the way he portrays both Emilia and Desdemona; both are good women.
Desdemona exceedingly so, yet he is able to convince other men that they are anything but what they are.

12. Iago Possible points makes Desdemona seem like a fickle, lusty woman
plays on Othello's insecurities perfectly
a master of deception and temptation.
How do we expect Iago to manipulate Othello?

13. Working in pairs think of 5 questions you would ask Iago about how and why he plans to get back at Othello.

14. Homework Write Desdemona’s diary entry after reuniting with Othello.
(10 sentences+)
In his soliloquy (line 287), how does what lago says about Desdemona and Othello differ from what he has said about them to Roderigo?