Elsewhere, Iago is once more shown to view love as that which can be manipulated his comparing of the party to a bridegroom and undressing for bed suggests an enjoyment of preventing the consummation of the marriage. Love: Othello’s comment to Desdemona indicates once more that love is controlled by external influences, as he says ‘Come Desdemona, ‘Tis the soldiers’ life/ To have their balmy slumbers walked with strife.’ This comment is apologetic in tone and suggests that their marriage, which should be a time when two individuals are supremely focused on and linked to each other in union, is affected by greatly by circumstances beyond their control, such as the Cypriot situation and the squabbles of those who Macbeth is in charge of. He dismisses Roderigo and tells the audience of the forthcoming events he will have Emilia convince Desdemona to meet with Cassio, and then have Othello witness this meeting. Iago calms him, telling him to remain in Cyprus, that they have to act with their wits and that all will work itself out. A returning Roderigo is angered as he has suffered a beating and is now penniless, having given Iago all his money for a worthless cause. Cassio then leaves and Iago speaks of the irony that he appears to be helping Cassio, when in fact this is when he is at his worst Cassio will now spend more time with Desdemona, which will allow the accustation of a relationship between the two and her virtue as ‘pitch’ to be easily plausible. Othello leads Desdemona back to bed, who awoke due to the loud confrontation, leaving Iago and Cassio alone Iago suggests that Cassio seek the help of Desdemona whose kind nature will lead her to convince her husband to reverse his decision, for she has sway over her husband’s kindness. Othello responds as Iago can only have wished, and believes Iago lessened the severity of the story so as to spare Cassio punishment and subsequently fires Cassio from his post. Iago presents himself as unwilling to present Cassio as blameworthy, suggesting that he was chasing an unknown man (who he does not identify as Roderigo) who must have upset him somehow. Montano says his injury makes it difficult to tell, due to the pain, and demands that Iago reveal what has just occurred. Montano attempts to put a halt to this but is struck and then stabbed by Cassio Othello enters demanding to know what has occurred (Iago has told Roderigo to go and ‘cry a mutiny’ which has alerted the commander to what has just occurred), but Iago and Cassio claim not to know what has occurred. During his absence Iago mentions to Montano the difficulty of Cassio dealing with the responsibility Othello gives to him, due to his drinking problem Roderigo then enters and is directed towards Cassio by Iago, which soon causes a confrontation. Cassio returns with a group, including Montano, and has clearly begun drinking he grows drunk quite quickly and as soon wanders off. Left alone, Iago reveals that a drunken Roderigo will be part of this group, and that Cassio will be fooled into committing an action that will bring shame upon him. When Othello departs Iago enters he speaks of Desdemona as a temptress, an allegation Cassio challenges while they disagree on another topic, sharing drinks, Cassio eventually gives in and goes to gather a group together. Act 2 Scene 3īefore leaving to consummate his marriage Othello warns Cassio to show self-restraint during the imminent celebrations. A herald reveals that Othello plans to celebrate the Turks’ drowning and his marriage simultaneously that evening.
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