Setting
Cyprus. The rest of the play takes place here.
Iago Pontificates
To pontificate is to express one’s opinions in a way considered annoyingly pompous and dogmatic (Oxford Dictionary). Iago uses it in this act in order to draw attention to himself, making himself seem like an intelligent authority figure.
Notable and Quotable
In Act 2 Scene 1, Iago says "with as little a web as this I will ensnare as great a fly as Cassio." Iago says this after he arrives in Cyprus but before Othello shows up. This quote actually tells a lot. Iago is planning to catch Cassio in his trap. Even though the trap is fairly small in nature, it will be able to bring down Cassio in all his greatness. The rest of the play will be affected by this, as ruining Cassio will be key in the plan to bring down Othello. Additionally, it is likely that Iago refers to Cassio as a fly because he considers him to be nothing more than a pesky annoyance who gets in his way.
Cassio Plays into Iago's Trap
Iago learns that Cassio does not handle alcohol well, and decides to use this to his advantage. While the two of them and Montano are celebrating, Iago manages to convince Cassio to drink. He does this by claiming that they are drinking to their friends, others will be coming over, and he only must drink one cup for the sake of it. Also, he engages in relaxed conversation with Cassio and gets the whole party involved in a drinking song to lull Cassio into a false sense of security. Cassio ends up drinking more than he planned to and becoming drunk, at which point Iago sends Roderigo after him. The two get into a fight quickly, and Montano tries to step in to stop it. Montano ends up being wounded and Roderigo slips away, following Iago's directions to cry mutiny. Once Othello finds out what has happened, he discharges Cassio. Cassio is devastated. Iago advises that Cassio talk to Desdemona about getting his job back and explain everything that happened to her. Cassio thinks this is a good plan, as Desdemona will be able to easily influence Othello. Iago's true intent is not to help though. With Desdemona talking to Cassio more and begging Othello to give Cassio his job back, it will be far easier to convince Othello that she may be up to something with Cassio.
The Devil and Hell in Act 2
“Come on, come on; you are pictures out of doors, Bells in your parlours, wild cats in your kitchens, Saints in your injuries, devils being offended, Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds" (Iago, Scene 1).
“Her eye must be fed; and what delight shall she have to look on the devil?” -Iago Scene 1
“I will rather sue to be despised than to deceive so good a commander with so slight, so drunken, and so indiscreet an officer. Drunk? and speak parrot? and squabble? swagger? swear? and discourse fustian with one's own shadow?—O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee devil" (Cassio, Scene 3)!
“It hath pleased the devil drunkenness to give place to the devil wrath: one unperfectness shows me another, to make me frankly despise myself" (Cassio, Scene 3).
“I will ask him for my place again;—he shall tell me I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast! O strange!—Every inordinate cup is unbless'd, and the ingredient is a devil” (Cassio, Scene 3).
“How am I, then, a villain To counsel Cassio to this parallel course, Directly to his good? Divinity of hell" (Iago, Scene 3)!
“If after every tempest come such calms, May the winds blow till they have waken'd death! And let the laboring bark climb hills of seas Olympus-high, and duck again as low As hell's from heaven” (Othello, Scene 1)!
“Her eye must be fed; and what delight shall she have to look on the devil?” -Iago Scene 1
“I will rather sue to be despised than to deceive so good a commander with so slight, so drunken, and so indiscreet an officer. Drunk? and speak parrot? and squabble? swagger? swear? and discourse fustian with one's own shadow?—O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee devil" (Cassio, Scene 3)!
“It hath pleased the devil drunkenness to give place to the devil wrath: one unperfectness shows me another, to make me frankly despise myself" (Cassio, Scene 3).
“I will ask him for my place again;—he shall tell me I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast! O strange!—Every inordinate cup is unbless'd, and the ingredient is a devil” (Cassio, Scene 3).
“How am I, then, a villain To counsel Cassio to this parallel course, Directly to his good? Divinity of hell" (Iago, Scene 3)!
“If after every tempest come such calms, May the winds blow till they have waken'd death! And let the laboring bark climb hills of seas Olympus-high, and duck again as low As hell's from heaven” (Othello, Scene 1)!