Act 2 Scene 1


Othello


Although Iago speaks in jest here, his comments suggest a distrustful and cynical nature. Later, in Acts 3 and 4, this view of women is balanced by Emilia’s equally distrustful attitude towards men. Cassio is presented as a refined and courteous individual. He speaks respectfully about Desdemona to Montano:


‘… He hath achieved a maid


That paragons description and wild fame, One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens, And in the essential vesture of creation Does tire the ingener’


He also asks Iago’s pardon for kissing Emilia: ‘Let it not gall your patience, good Iago, / That I extend my manners. ’Tis my breeding / That gives me this bold show of courtesy.’ In this scene Iago malevolently schemes to ruin Othello. He remarks that Othello’s life is currently harmonious: ‘O, you are well tuned now!’ However, Iago intends to create discord with his sinister plan: ‘I’ll set down the pegs that make this music’. Iago aims to encourage jealousy within Othello by suggesting that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair. Iago relishes the misery he is set to cause and hopes to ruin Othello’s happiness even to the point of madness: ‘And practising upon his peace and quiet / Even to madness.’ Iago enrols the unwitting Roderigo in his plan by instructing him to goad Cassio into a fight to bring about his dismissal.


Othello and Desdemona exhibit the depth of their love in this scene. They joyfully greet each other and clearly take great pleasure in each other’s company. Desdemona expresses great optimism for their continued happiness: ‘our loves and comforts should increase, / Even as our days do grow!’ However, the dramatic irony* of Iago’s bitter asides overshadows this joy. Iago’s soliloquy raises questions about his motivation. The soliloquy is emotionally charged as Iago struggles to justify his malevolence. Iago says that his hatred is partly due to the ‘poisonous mineral’ of jealousy for Emilia’s supposed infidelity with Othello. In Act 1, Scene 3, Iago says that he is not absolutely certain if the rumour of the affair is true but he vows to proceed as if it were. Iago makes good on this promise here: ‘And nothing can or shall content my soul / Till I am evened with him, wife for wife.’ Iago also mentions a similar suspicion about Cassio: ‘I fear Cassio with my nightcap too’. This raises questions about Iago’s motivation in the play. Does it stem from paranoia about his wife’s fidelity? Or is Iago merely looking to justify to himself his hatred of Othello? Iago also toys with the idea that he is attracted to Desdemona himself and that this partly feeds his need for ‘revenge’: ‘I do love her too –


Not out of absolute lust, though peradventure I stand accountant for as great a sin, But partly led to diet my revenge’.


It seems that Iago himself fails to adequately provide a motive for his actions. Iago, although a schemer, is also a quick-thinking opportunist. He admits that the finer details of his evil plan are not fully formed and that the complete scheme will only be clear to him as it happens: ‘’Tis here, but yet confused: / Knavery’s plain face is never seen till used.’


*Dramatic irony: when the audience knows something that the characters on stage are unaware of. In this case, Othello and Desdemona are wholly unaware of Iago’s plot to ruin their happiness.


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