OTHELLO INTERPITIVE JOURNAL 2 In act two Othello and others arrive in Cyprus. Iago is still plotting against Othello while he tries to ruin Othello life. He is using other charters to get to Othello. Othello is a very courageous, kind and admirable General.
However his kindness is gradually leading him into destruction and confusion. Othello is a man who can take control in any situation. Even if the odds are against him, Othello is a respectful man in any situation. Othello has just reunited with Desdemona as “profits yet to come tween” (2. 3. 12) them before they separate again.
Othello is telling Desdemona that even the profits will not come between them. Othello will concur the profits to stay with Desdemona at all costs. Othello will be brave to take control of his life. He is strong enough to stop anyone that he knows is a threat to him or Desdemona. He will tell anyone to do as he says and if they do not he will give them the warning to “hold, for your lives” (2.
3. 176) or they will be slayed like wild animals. Othello takes control in this situation by threatening to end Cassio and Montano life if they do not stop their petty fight. He shows a great leadership strength by taking control of everyones actions.
Othello lets everyone know who is the boss while being respectful and courteous. Othe! llc continues to try and be nice while he demands Cassio and Montano to “speak” (2. 3. 190) and asks “who began this” (2. 3. 190) before he decides who is at fault and who should be penalized for what is happening.
He gives everyone a fair chance to say what they want. He wants to know all of the facts before he passes judgment on either one of the men involved in the brawl. Othello shows how he can be a great leader even in the worst of situations He passes judgment and “Cassio, I love thee, but nevermore be officer of mine” (2. 3. 264-265) is all that Othello has to say.
He tries his best to let Cassio down easily even though he has just ended Cassios career. This hits Othello as hard as it does Cassio because he put almost all of his trust into Cassio to do his duty. All of the evidence shows how Othello is willing and able to take control of any situation that is thrown upon him, even those that concern some of the people who are closest to him. Othello is a man who puts a lot of trust into everyone. This trust may lead to his demise in his career and in his life.
He puts a lot of trust into Cassio and Cassio blows this trust by getting drunk and fighting with Montano. He is reluctant to ask Cassio “have you forgot all sense of place and duty” (2. 3. 179) because of the answer that he may get. This makes both Cassio and Othello look bad. Othello is Cassios general and the fight reflects on Othello and how he runs things in his army.
Othello still trusts almost everyone as much as before the brawl but he should be and doesnt even realize what is really happening as “honest Iago” (2. 3. 189) is the only witness to a strange situation again. Othello asks Iago “that looks dead with grieving, speak” (2. 3. 189-190) so he knows what has happened in the brawl.
Othello does not know that Iago is not even as trust worthy as Cassio is. Iago tells the truth for the first time in the book because the truth hurts Cassio more! than lies would. Othello just wants to know how everything happened. He trusts Iago with everything he owns and loves. It is to bad for him that he cant here what is going on in Iago head when he says “I play the villain, when this advice is free I give” (2. 3.
357) because Iago describes how he really is. Othello has no idea the man he trusts the most is the one he should despise the most. Iago is using Othello for his own personal gain and has no remorse for anything he does to him and others foiling his dreams. Othello is using his wrongful trust mode and more on his way to his own demise. All of this shows how Othello is sending himself into deeper and darker hole that will lead to his demise. He must learn to trust himself more than others or he will lose control of all situations that he is to face in the future.
For now Othello still has control of all situations that are in his grasp but must watch whom he trusts or his demise may come in one fellow swoop with no warning. 314.