Act 2 Scene 3


[Exit RODERIGO] Two things are to be done:


360 My wife must move for121 I’ll set her on –


Cassio to her mistress –


Myself the while to draw the Moor apart, And bring him jump122


Soliciting his wife. Ay, that’s the way! Dull not device by coldness and delay.123 [Exit]


Key Quotations OTHELLO CASSIO IAGO


My blood begins my safer guides to rule, And passion, having my best judgement collied, Assays to lead the way.


Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial.


His soul is so enfettered to her love, That she may make, unmake, do what she list, Even as her appetite shall play the god With his weak function.


IAGO


IAGO IAGO


Divinity of hell! / When devils will the blackest sins put on, / They do suggest at first with heavenly shows


I’ll pour this pestilence into his ear


So will I turn her virtue into pitch, And out of her own goodness make the net That shall enmesh them all.


Commentary


This scene combines the comedy of drunkenness, the visual spectacle of onstage fighting and rich dramatic tension. Although the scene is both humorous and exciting, it is also important in terms of plot development and the relationships between the characters. As they discuss Desdemona, the differences between Cassio and Iago are brought into sharp relief. Iago is vulgar and bawdy as he refers to Desdemona in sexually suggestive terms: ‘she is sport for Jove’, ‘I’ll warrant her, full of game’, ‘What an eye she has! Methinks it sounds a parley of / provocation.’ Cassio refuses to discuss her in this manner and instead respectfully stresses her beauty and virtue: ‘An inviting eye – and yet methinks right modest’. Iago is adept at masking his true intentions. He feigns a jovial nature to encourage Cassio to get drunk and capably entertains the drinkers with his singing and jokes. Similarly, Iago pretends to be Cassio’s friend and makes Othello think he is toning down his report of the fight; in reality Iago is setting Cassio up for a fall. Iago stage manages the melee, encouraging Roderigo to raise the alarm to ‘cry a mutiny’ while all the time appearing as a reluctant witness. Iago’s songs are of thematic importance in the play. They point to the danger of excessive pride: ‘He was a wight of high renown, / And thou art but of low degree / ’Tis pride that pulls the country down’.


65 when he may Cassio find 121 must move for: plead on (Cassio’s)


behalf 122


123 jump: at precisely the right time


Dull not…delay: Don’t let the plot lose its momentum by lack of energy or any hesitancy


Othello


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