Act 2: Scenes 1-3

     Act 2 begins with Mother Nature, showing her authority over the Turks by wrecking the entire Turkish fleet, off the coast of Cyprus. Two new characters are introduced, the first being the governor of Cyprus:  Montano and the second Othello’s Lieutenant a man named Michael Cassio. As Montano and other nameless men witness the destruction of the Turkish fleet another boat is sailing into the bay. Aboard are Cassio: Othello’s Lieutenant. Cassio is worried though, his ship and the Othello’s were “separated by a most foul and violent tempest” (2.2.2)—Montano suggests that the two of them “stare at the sea until the sky and sea blend together” (2.2.2). As they do this, they discuss the sturdiness of his vessel and the reliability of his “pilot”. Suddenly a sail appears on the horizon, when this ship fires a greeting ship they assume that it is Othello. Iago and Desdemona arrive to the surprise of the Montano and Michael Cassio. Desdemona, the wife of Othello—described as “God’s Masterpiece” (2.2.4)—asks whether her husband had arrived on the island. Just like clockwork, a “no” signals another sail to appear on the horizon. Meanwhile Iago and Desdemona argue, about a topic that might possibly be a precursor to modern day women’s rights. Othello arrives; him and his wife embrace and exchange what would be now called lovey-dovey wish-wash. Othello suggests they make their way to the castle. Meanwhile Iago tells Roderigo that Desdemona feigns love with Othello, and in actuality loves Cassio.

     Scene 2 begins a large party begin in honor of the defeat of the Turks, and the marriage of Othello and Desdemona.
 

     Scene 3 begins with Othello, informing Michael Cassio to make sure that the party does not get out of control. Othello excuses himself with the pretense that he and Desdemona are off to, well, consummate their marriage. After Othello and his wife, have left Cassio and Iago take their watch. With compliments much more appropriate floating from the mouths of teenage boys, than two full-grown men—rather two drunk full-grown men—Iago as scheming as he is has a plan behind getting Cassio drunk, thinking to himself, he schemes to get Cassio more drunk so that “He’ll be as full of quarrel and offense/ As my young mistresses dog” (2.3.3). Iago is getting Cassio drunk so that he may do something to offend the whole island. Iago and Cassio run into Montano, Cassio is beyond drunk at this point. Eventually they run into Roderigo, Cassio  exceedingly drunk at this point challenges Roderigo to a fight—they fight. Suddenly, the riot alarm goes off, and Othello shows up and cools the situation. Othello tries to get to the bottom of the issue, by finding out who started the quarrel. Of course this whole deal is all a scheme of Iago, the puppet-master who is trying to disrupt the relationships between Othello, Michael Cassio, Roderigo and the lovely Desdemona.