Othello, Act 2, Scene 2

William Shakespeare

Every note, for your class

The story so far

Earlier in the play

Othello has married Desdemona and accepted command in Cyprus; Iago plots against him and Cassio.

In the last scene: Act 2, Scene 1

The Turkish fleet is destroyed; Othello reunites with Desdemona; Iago recruits Roderigo to provoke Cassio.

SCENE II. A street.

Enter Othello’s Herald with a proclamation.

HERALD

It is Othello’s pleasure, our noble and valiant general, that upon certain tidings now arrived, importing the mere perdition of the Turkish fleet, every man put himself into triumph: some to dance, some to make bonfires, each man to what sport and revels his addition leads him. For besides these beneficial news, it is the celebration of his nuptial. So much was his pleasure should be proclaimed. All offices are open, and there is full liberty of feasting from this present hour of five till the bell have told eleven. Heaven bless the isle of Cyprus and our noble general Othello!

This promise sounds unrestricted, but the precise hours show that Othello still controls when his people may celebrate.

Cyprus was a Venetian possession in the period assumed by the play. The Ottoman Empire, whose forces are called ‘Turkish’ here, contested Venetian control of the eastern Mediterranean.

Othello orders celebrations because the Turkish fleet is destroyed and he has married.

The announcement invites everyone to celebrate Othello’s marriage alongside the military victory. This creates a mood of shared happiness before mistrust threatens the couple’s love.

This word makes Othello’s marriage an extra reason for public celebration. The repeated references to his wishes connect his private happiness with his power to command.

Everyone may feast freely until eleven, creating the drinking opportunity Iago will exploit.

The first phrase means total destruction, while the second calls that destruction helpful. Shakespeare shows how completely the Herald judges the enemy’s loss from Cyprus’s side.

Exit.

Characters

Speaking

Herald1 speech

Mentioned

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Themes

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Questions on this scene

Reading
What news does Othello’s herald announce about the Turkish fleet?
Reading
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