Othello Act 2 sii & siii

• Engels
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)

Lesson objectives 

Reputation, reputation, reputation = Cassio 

Cassio and Iago's use of language 

Soldiers + military victory + alcohol = disaster

Staging and highlighting the military component of the play 

Root of the day

Sect: a Latin root word meaning 'cut'.  

Insect = a creature “cut” into three parts: the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. Hence, insects have three segments or “cuttings.”

'sect' can also be spelt 'seg' due to pronunciation issues. 

Rate the word 1 to 4

1. I do not know the word, and I have never seen it before. 

2. I've heard or seen the word before, but I'm not sure what it means. 

3. I know the word and can recognise and understand it while reading, but I probably wouldn't feel comfortable using it in writing or speech. 

4. I know the word well and can use it correctly in writing or speech. 

Transect 

Word of the day

Transect (v) – to cut across something; to divide something by cutting it

Can you think of a words with the same root, but spelt as 'seg' 

The surgeon accidentally transected the right renal artery during the procedure, said the family's lawyer.

segment, segmentation 

What is your reputation? Why does it matter?

Discuss on your tables: 

1. What can destroy reputations? 

2. Can they ever be rebuilt?

3. Do you think that reputation matters less or more now than in Othello's time?

4. Consider celebrities who lose reputations – can they ever get them back? Should they? Does it depend what they’ve done?

5. Consider different kinds of reputation:

Personal

Professional

Party time!

Othello encourages each man to entertain himself in whatever way his pleasures would lead him, with the condition that the feasting and celebration also be dedicated, at least in part, to his recent marriage.

For the time being, war is over and peace, prosperity, and love are the order of the day.

TASK: make a table of the phrases each man uses about Desdemona

Cassio 

Iago 

Iago is keen to see that Cassio will defend Desdemona – such a response will ensure Iago’s plan works perfectly

TASK: make a table of the phrases each man uses about Desdemona

Cassio	Iago
exquisite lady (17)	Love of his Desdemona (14)
fresh and delicate creature (19)	He had not yet made/wanton the night with her, and she is sport for Jove (15- 16)
modest (22)	full of game (18)
perfection (24)	What an eye [...] parley to provocation (21)

Iago is keen to see that Cassio will defend Desdemona – such a response will ensure Iago’s plan works perfectly

Soldiers + military victory + alcohol = disaster

Othello warns Cassio that everyone must exercise restraint, not “out-sport discretion” (3) or party beyond a reasonable point.

This is an unrealistic request – Othello wants the men to celebrate for six hours, but not party too hard.

The hyper masculine militaristic atmosphere combined with the celebratory mood, and a lot of alcohol, mean that Othello’s request was never going to be fulfilled.

“The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue / That profit’s yet to come ‘tween me and you” (2.3.9-10)

• Most critics agree that at this point, the marriage is still unconsummated.
  
• That the purpose of marriage is to bring forth “fruit”, and clearly, Othello sees that as the next step. 
  
• Even nowadays, an unconsummated marriage is null and void  and not legally binding. It is grounds for divorce or an annulment.
  
• Remember the stereotype of the time that black people were hyper sexual – this suggestion of non-consummation perhaps suggests Othello is not driven by sexual desires but by love and affection instead.
  
• Consider the juxtaposition with his role as commander of his troops. 

Jacobean attitudes to interracial unions (inside or outside of wedlock) and the children produced

We get some clues to this from an earlier play Titus Andronicus, which features the only other Moor in Shakespeare, Aaron (who is one of the villains).

He is the lover of the (white) Queen of the Goths, Tamora, who has become pregnant with his child despite being married to the Emperor.

When the “blackamoor child” is born, the Nurse describes it as:

Iago as puppet master in Act 2 scene 3 

• Iago devoted friend?
  
• He has created the reputation of being honest and trustworthy. 
  
• Look carefully at how he persuades Cassio to drink too much. 
  
• Iago presents the side of himself he wishes others to see in that moment.
  
• In this scene he presents himself as a reveller, singing drinking songs and telling jokes with his comrades. But he is always pulling the strings and controlling things unseen.
  
• Question: Why is reputation of so much importance to Cassio? 
  
• Write a one paragraph to the the question: 
  
• How does Iago manage, in Act 2 scene 3, to appear honest whilst plotting Cassio's downfall. What 'tricks' does he employ. Use quotes where necessary.