The return of Othello - Othello is meeting with Desdemona.
https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/othello-act-ii-scene-1-the-return-of-othello-54949
Summary
Montano, the governor of Cyprus, talks about the storm with two gentlemen that Turkish fleets were destroyed in the tempest. Iago, Desdemona, Emilia and Roderigo arrived, soon Desdemona asks about Othello. While everybody waits for Othello's ship, Iago criticizes women saying they are all deceptive and hypocritical. Desdemona laughs at Iago's prejudice toward women. When Cassio and Desdemona talk about the news of Othello, Iago notices that Cassio takes Desdemona's hand and asserts that Cassio will lose his position of lieutenant. Othello arrives safely, and greets Desdemona, and thanks Cypriots for their welcome, and orders Iago to unload ships. After everybody goes to celebrate the drowning of Turks, Iago reassures Roderigo that Desdemon will soon leave Othello and fall in love with a more handsome man, Cassio. Iago convinces Roderigo to starts a quarrel with Cassio which will make Cassio fall out favor with Othello. In a soliloquy, Iago states his suspicious that Othello has slept with his wife, Emilia. Iago wants to sleep with Desdemona to get his revenge, if he failed, Roderigo will accuse Cassio of sleeping with Desdemona and finally torture Othello to madness.
Literary Devices
There are many literary devices being used in this scene. First of all, in the beginning of the scene, there is much description of the sea in powerful imagery, “It is a high-wrought flood ...On the enchafed flood.”(2.1.2-18). Shakespeare is conveying the power, beauty and danger of the oceans to an audience who may never experienced it. The storm is a symbol of unrest, it marks the end of the peaceful part of the play, and prefigures the disruption of the emotions that follows. It also foreshadows for upcoming tragic events that Othello would suffer. Then, Iago criticizes women as deceptive and hypocritical through a device of juxtaposition, "You are pictures out of door, bells in your parlors,wildcats in your kitchens..." (2.1.122-123). Iago is juxtaposing bells and wild-cats to show how women act nice in parlors, where people are watching, but evil in kitchens, where they are alone. Iago also shows his prejudice toward women, “She never yet was foolish that was fair; For even her folly helped her to an heir.” (2.1.151-152). It is alliteration and paradox - for alliteration, it repeats the same sound in the beginning of the words to attract reader’s attention, for paradox - Iago uses “foolish” to describe women of those who don’t take advantage of their beauty are foolish but women who use their beauty are also foolish. Again, Iago shows his racist toward women. Another example is that, "Oh heavy ignorance! Thou praisest the worst best.” (2.1.158-159), it is antithesis. Desdemona is saying that Iago praises her in a fake way, but he makes it sound believable. She could be saying he praises the worst people in the best way. Desdemona sees right through his games which also indicates that Iago is good at speaking or he is a fake man. Overall, Shakespeare uses literary devices to strengthen and also enrich his language in order to express his theme in an effective way.
Interesting Question
Q: Why does Othello's ship survive in the storm, but Turkish fleet doesn't?
A: I think one of the reason that Othello's ship could survive in the storm is that Othello's ship is much more advanced and powerful than Turkish's so that it could protect Othello's ship from being destroyed by the dangerous storm. Another reason could be that Turkish's fleet experiences the most dangerous time of the storm while Othello's ship experiences the least dangerous time of the storm.
Class Activity - Role of Storm
The storm is a destructive force of nature, and it always symbolize the violence and tragedy. In Othello,the storm is like human's emotion that can be built up to increase the tension in both nature and human emotion. Under the bad weather, all evil things will come out to contribute to the development of plot. The storm is a symbol of unrest, it marks the end of the peaceful part of the play, and prefigures the disruption of the emotions that follows. It also foreshadows for upcoming tragic events that Othello would suffer. The dangerous storm represents Iago's evil plan that would bring Othello to death. Furthermore, the storm changes the development of the play. The storm that destroys Turkish fleet means that there will be no military battle involved in the play, instead, Iago's manipulation will take the centre of the stage and become the main part of the play. The storm also symbolize the love between Desdemona and Othello which is ruinous and unrest. The desperate storm creates a tense atmosphere which makes audiences feel nervous, disturbed, and get ready for the upcoming tragedy.
Class Activity - Comparison of Iago's Soliloquy
Iago's soliloquy at the end of Act 1 Scene 3
Iago is stating his hatred for Othello and he ia suspicious that Othello has slept with his wife, Emilia. Iago declares his plans, to cheat Roderigo out of his money, to convince Othello that Cassio has slept with Desdemona, and finally use Othello's honest nature to bring him to demise.
Iago's soliloquy at the end of Act 2 Scene 1
Iago is stating that he still feels suspicious that Othello has slept with Iago's wife, Emilia. Iago wants to sleep with Desdemona not only out of lust, but also Iago wants to get even with the Moor " Wife for wife"(2.1.286). Iago also states that if he is unable to get his revenge, Roderigo will accuse Cassio in order to make Othello believes that his lieutenant, Cassio has slept with Desdemona which will finally torture Othello to madness.
In both Iago's soliloquies, Iago explains clear what his motive is and what he's plan is going to be. Compared to Iago's soliloquy at the end of Act 1 Scene 3, Iago is now suspicious that Cassio also has slept with his wife without a specific reason. In the soliloquy in Act 2 Scene1, Iago is planning to use Roderigo to help him carry out his plan. By using soliloquy, Shakespeare is able o portray Iago's mind and inner emotions. In both soliloquies, Iago plays with audiences by manipulating their expectations so that they will never uncover Iago's true character.
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