- The importance of the hankerchef - The hankerchef given to Desdemona symbolizes Othello's love to her. Iago uses this to 'prove' to Othello that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio as Othello sees him handing Desdemona back the hankerchef. The story of the hankerchef suggests is more powerful than the truth.
- Story telling is an important theme in Othello - The story Iago tells Othello consumes him and prevents him from seeking the truth. / Othello asks Iago to get poison for Desdemona but ironically Iago has already poisoned Othello's mind.
- The motif of poison is present - It is the roots of Iagos powers (story vs. physical truth)
Act 2, Scene 1
The setting has changed to Cyprus in this act. The weather is stormy - "A fuller blast ne'er shook our battlements" (line 6). Everything that seems to follow the change of scene to Cyprus is framed by the wildness of the natural world. The weather becomes an objective correlative to what is happening between relationships of people on stage.
The storm makes the end of the peaceful part of the play and is a sign that Iago's meddling is about to really begin.
The character, Michael Cassio, was not of great importance in Act I, but however, in Act II, the audience can really start to understand what type of man Cassio is. Cassio has a very polished, courtly way of speaking and is seen to be very smooth with the ladies. He calls Desdemona "divine", however he is very respectful towards her and wishes Othello and Desdemona much joy together. This creates much irony, as he does not hold any love for Desdemona, only respect, he is still charged with having an affair with her, when in reality, he would be one of the only men that would not pursue her.
It is Cassio's courtly manner that makes him Othello's lieutenant as Othello admires his responsibility as a Venetian and a soldier.
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