Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/3-1-1-scene-one-events [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [A Level](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level.md) › [English Lit](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature.md) › [AQA](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa.md) › [English Lit: AQA A Level Othello](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello.md) › Scene One: Events # Scene One: Events English Lit: AQA A Level Othello, topic 3.1.1 ## Introduction to Cyprus and Cassio Act Two Scene One changes the setting to Cyprus, where there is a violent storm on the sea and quayside where Montano, Cassio and three Gentlemen await Othello’s arrival by ship. ### Events ![Events](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/a954a570-223f-4a21-8fcd-c3854718b3ff/shutterstock_71160832.jpg) - The scene opens amongst a storm in the new setting of Cyprus. - Cassio, quickly followed by Desdemona, Iago and his wife Emilia, await Othello’s arrival anxiously. - Soon they are reunited, but Iago puts tactics in place to determinedly destroy their happiness. ### The storm ![The storm](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-05/0b370228-9b1f-46c9-98f0-6c1265748da5/shutterstock_558656821.jpg) - The storm is so ferocious that the men can see __‘nothing at all’__; it ‘seems to pelt the clouds’ with __‘high and monstrous mane’__. - Montano seems sure that it will mean the Turkish fleet __‘are drowned’__ as __‘it is impossible they bear it out’.__ ### Othello's military reputation ![Othello's military reputation](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/a6f2e9ce-d4fe-41b3-91fd-2f6bffcfe631/shutterstock_530282698.jpg) - Cassio hopes for Othello’s safety on the __‘dangerous sea’__, but is optimistic and confident as he believes Othello’s __‘pilot [is] of very expert and approved allowance’__, emphasising Othello’s military worth. ### Desdemona ![Desdemona](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/91e31f64-f21e-4de1-a5d2-49bc45e35222/mayflower-mast-ship-.jpg) - The dialogue then moves to Desdemona – Cassio praises her as __‘divine’__ and __‘our great captain’s captain’__, the __‘riches of the ship’__ as she arrives in Cyprus safely. ### Cassio and Desdemona ![Cassio and Desdemona](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-12/904874fe-9ce1-496d-a778-3993b741fa3b/statue-pray-kneel-beg-.jpg) - Desdemona, whose immediate concern is if Cassio has heard from her __‘lord’__, meets Cassio’s exaggerated, positive reception factually. - Here, Shakespeare strongly implies that any affair between Cassio and Desdemona is indeed a fabrication made by Iago with no truth. ## Emilia’s Introduction This scene is the first time we meet Iago’s wife and Desdemona’s companion in Cyprus, Emilia. ### Kisses ![Kisses](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-12/84f58ce9-f653-4c2a-a625-e5c5ff446198/couple-kiss-statue-love-.jpg) - Emilia first significant use as a character is to further provoke conflict between Cassio and Iago, as Cassio __‘kisses’__ Emilia as she arrives in Cyprus. - Whilst Cassio insists that the act is only __‘a bold show of courtesy’__, Iago appears to be personally incited by this and uses it as a reason to insult and patronise Emilia. ### Misogynistic ![Misogynistic](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-12/03672eee-938d-4cb4-9769-5ad5ef6ad72e/couple-kiss-love-.jpg) - Cassio’s motivations here could be ripe for potential alternative interpretations – is he simply a naturally courteous man, or is he rather deliberately attempting to goad Iago’s jealous nature by using exaggerated masculine bravado? - He states she has __‘too much’__ speech and insists Cassio __‘would have enough’__ to kiss her any more, unquestionably applying his misogynistic attitudes we have seen previously to his own wife. ### A quarrel ![A quarrel](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/c34f7639-27f0-4868-ba98-7d6c246f0dd1/couple-argue-divorce.jpg) - Desdemona engages in somewhat of a quarrel with Iago, which could be either interpreted as mischievous, amusing teasing between the two or alternatively a rather tense, bitter and unpleasant argument rising from Iago’s critical comments about women. ### The argument ![The argument](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/57262d73-65bc-4fc6-9e8a-b3a6eb277978/bed-1822497_1920.jpg) - Desdemona decries him as a __‘slanderer’__ as he implies all women’s involvement with prostitution as they __‘rise to play and go to bed to work’__. ### Desdemona and Emilia ![Desdemona and Emilia](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/54c06833-6b3c-471b-a88a-068241d2a7f7/shutterstock_629006642.jpg) - Throughout this conversation Emilia is noticeably mostly silent, implying her subservience and meekness when she is with Iago, whilst Desdemona contests his pointed witticisms rather equally and determinedly, typifying her strength and power as a woman in the face of misogyny at the beginning of the play. ## Test yourself on Scene One: Events - Where does Act Two Scene One change the setting of the play to? - Events of Act Two Scene One - How does Shakespeare imply that any affair between Cassio and Desdemona is a fabrication made up by Iago? - Which character seems sure that [the storm] will mean the Turkish fleet __‘are drowned’__ as __‘it is impossible they bear it out’__ ? - Which character is introduced for the first time in Act Two Scene One? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/eaa5fbae-2db3-4bc1-9205-b0228468355d/section/282de029-9724-41a5-b16c-957c5bf96cba/session) - Previous topic: [2.4.4 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-4-4-key-ideas.md) - Next topic: [3.1.2 Key Events 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/3-1-2-key-events-2.md) ## English Lit: AQA A Level Othello contents ### 1 Context - 1.1 Introduction - [1.1.1 Specifications](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/1-1-1-specifications.md) - 1.2 Background - [1.2.1 Shakespeare](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/1-2-1-shakespeare.md) - [1.2.2 Love](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/1-2-2-love.md) - [1.2.3 Tragedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/1-2-3-tragedy.md) - [1.2.4 Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/1-2-4-historical-context.md) - 1.3 Othello - [1.3.1 Setting](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/1-3-1-setting.md) - [1.3.2 Social Issues](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/1-3-2-social-issues.md) ### 2 Act One: Summaries & Themes - 2.1 Act and Scene Summaries - [2.1.1 Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-1-1-structure.md) - [2.1.2 The Exam](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-1-2-the-exam.md) - 2.2 Scene One - [2.2.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-2-1-key-events.md) - [2.2.2 Key Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-2-2-key-themes.md) - [2.2.3 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-2-3-key-ideas.md) - 2.3 Scene Two - [2.3.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-3-1-key-events.md) - [2.3.2 Key Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-3-2-key-themes.md) - [2.3.3 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-3-3-key-ideas.md) - 2.4 Scene Three - [2.4.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-4-1-key-events.md) - [2.4.2 Key Events 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-4-2-key-events-2.md) - [2.4.3 Key Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-4-3-key-themes.md) - [2.4.4 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-4-4-key-ideas.md) ### 3 Act Two: Summaries & Themes - 3.1 Scene One & Two - [3.1.1 Scene One: Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/3-1-1-scene-one-events.md) - [3.1.2 Key Events 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/3-1-2-key-events-2.md) - [3.1.3 Key Ideas: Love & Tragedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/3-1-3-key-ideas-love-and-tragedy.md) - [3.1.4 Scene Two: Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/3-1-4-scene-two-events.md) - 3.2 Scene Three - [3.2.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/3-2-1-key-events.md) - [3.2.2 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/3-2-2-key-ideas.md) ### 4 Act Three: Summaries & Themes - 4.1 Key Events - [4.1.1 Scene One & Two](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/4-1-1-scene-one-and-two.md) - [4.1.2 Scene Three](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/4-1-2-scene-three.md) - [4.1.3 Scene Three: Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/4-1-3-scene-three-key-ideas.md) - [4.1.4 Scene Four](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/4-1-4-scene-four.md) ### 5 Act Four - 5.1 Scene One - [5.1.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/5-1-1-key-events.md) - [5.1.2 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/5-1-2-key-ideas.md) - 5.2 Scene Two - [5.2.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/5-2-1-key-events.md) - [5.2.2 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/5-2-2-key-ideas.md) - 5.3 Scene Three - [5.3.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/5-3-1-key-events.md) - [5.3.2 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/5-3-2-key-ideas.md) ### 6 Act Five - 6.1 Scene One - [6.1.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/6-1-1-key-events.md) - [6.1.2 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/6-1-2-key-ideas.md) - 6.2 Scene Two - [6.2.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/6-2-1-key-events.md) - [6.2.2 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/6-2-2-key-ideas.md) ### 7 Character Profiles - 7.1 Major Characters - [7.1.1 Othello](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/7-1-1-othello.md) - [7.1.2 Iago](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/7-1-2-iago.md) - [7.1.3 Desdemona](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/7-1-3-desdemona.md) - [7.1.4 Emilia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/7-1-4-emilia.md) - [7.1.5 Cassio](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/7-1-5-cassio.md) - 7.2 Minor Characters - [7.2.1 Roderigo & Brabantio](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/7-2-1-roderigo-and-brabantio.md) - [7.2.2 Other Characters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/7-2-2-other-characters.md) ### 8 Key Themes - 8.1 Love & Tragedy - [8.1.1 Love](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/8-1-1-love.md) - [8.1.2 Love 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/8-1-2-love-2.md) - [8.1.3 Tragedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/8-1-3-tragedy.md) - [8.1.4 Tragedy 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/8-1-4-tragedy-2.md) - 8.2 Other Key Themes - [8.2.1 Public versus Private](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/8-2-1-public-versus-private.md) - [8.2.2 Appearance & Reality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/8-2-2-appearance-and-reality.md) ### 9 Writing Techniques - 9.1 Writing Techniques - [9.1.1 Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/9-1-1-structure.md) - [9.1.2 Genre](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/9-1-2-genre.md) - [9.1.3 Form & Language](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/9-1-3-form-and-language.md) - [9.1.4 Language & Imagery](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/9-1-4-language-and-imagery.md) ### 10 Critical Debates - 10.1 Criticism & Performance - [10.1.1 Shakespeare's Legacy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/10-1-1-shakespeares-legacy.md) - [10.1.2 Traditional](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/10-1-2-traditional.md) - [10.1.3 Modern & Contemporary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/10-1-3-modern-and-contemporary.md) - 10.2 Approaches - [10.2.1 Feminist Approach](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/10-2-1-feminist-approach.md) - [10.2.2 Psychoanalytic Approach](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/10-2-2-psychoanalytic-approach.md) - [10.2.3 Marxist Approach](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/10-2-3-marxist-approach.md) ### 11 Approaching AQA English Literature - 11.1 Specification A - [11.1.1 Specification A](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/11-1-1-specification-a.md) - [11.1.2 Love Through the Ages](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/11-1-2-love-through-the-ages.md) - 11.2 Specification B - [11.2.1 Specification B](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/11-2-1-specification-b.md) - [11.2.2 Aspects of Tragedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/11-2-2-aspects-of-tragedy.md) ### 12 Issues of Assessment - 12.1 The Exams - [12.1.1 AOs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/12-1-1-aos.md) - [12.1.2 Mark Scheme](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/12-1-2-mark-scheme.md)