Act 2

Question 1

‘Heaven bless the isle of Cyprus and our noble general/ Othello!’

Answer 1

Themes: honour
The use of a minor character for the announcement suggests Othello is well respected by many as a good leader - the relation to Cyprus being blessed becomes ironic as Iago’s sinful nature corrupts this and leads Othello into a descent into madness

Question 2

‘My sick fool Roderigo/ whom love hath turned almost the wrong side out’

Answer 2

Themes: unrequited love
Iago again struggles to perceive love and understand Roderigo’s obsessive love for Desdemona - there is also an engagement with unrequited love or courtly love, where the suitor cannot obtain the woman of his desires.

Question 3

‘Warlike island’

Answer 3

Themes: conflict, instability
The move to Cyprus takes away the security of Venetian society

Question 4

‘Cassio, I love thee,’ but never more be officer of mine’

Answer 4

Themes: military convention, male friendship
Again, Othello presents a measured resolution to the problem, showing his understanding of his position and what it requires of him, but still doing so admirabl.y

Question 5

‘Come, Desdemona, ‘tis the soldier’s life’

Answer 5

Themes: military convention
While Desdemona seems to be included in male business in Venice, she is excluded from it in Cyprus, and her failure to understand this change or military culture leads her to her traged.y

Question 6

‘Reputation, reputation, reputation…I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what/ as I am an honest man’

Answer 6

Themes: honour, militrary convention, social hierarchy
Repition of ‘reputation’ emphasises its importance to Cassio and its inextricable link with his pers.on

Question 7

‘out of her goodness make the nett that shall emesh them all’

Answer 7

Themes: manipulation, male control of women
Metaphor - again, patriarchal manipulation of women allows men great power over women’s fates, and Iago uses this to also entrap Othello, who is inextricably linked to Desdemona