In venice, Iago, who feels slighted at the recent promotion of the nobler-born Cassio to lieutenant, rouses Brabantio with news of his daughter Desdemona's elopement with Iago's commander, Othello. Barbantio tackles Othello with the theft of his daughter, claiming that he must have worked on her by witchcraft. There dispute is settled by the Duke of Venice who sanctions the marriage when Desdemona tells him of her love for Othello. The Duke and the Senate have a high regard for both the nobility and military capacity of the Moor, whom they now appoint head of the Venetian army in Cyprus. Desdemona refuses to be parted from her new husband and arranges to follow him to Cyprus under the protection of Iago and his wife Emilia. With them goes Roderigo, who is in love with desdemona and is being milked financially by Iago: the latter persuades Roderigo that Desdemona's marriage need to put an end to his hopes.
Act II .
A terrible storm off Cyprus has virtually annihilated the Turkish threat (Which Othello has arrived to quell) by sinking their boats. Fears for the travelers from Venice, however, are happily confounded as Desdemona and Othello are re-united and welcomed to Cyprus by Cassio, who preceded them. Iago's malice is concentrated at this point against Cassio. Having roused Roderigo against the lieutenant by suggesting that he may by a rival for Desdemona's love, he persuades Cassio, who has been left in charge of the watch by Othello, to drink with him, despite Cassio's plea of a weak head. By wily maneuvering from Iago, Cassio is brought to strike Roderigo. When Othello is roused by the brawl from what is in effect his wedding night, he dismisses Cassio from the lieutenancy. Iago persuades Cassio to try and gain Desdemona's favor as a step to regaining Othello's; he then reveals to the audience his intention to 'turn her virtue into pitch/ And out of her own goodness make the net/ That shall enmesh them all (II.
