Act 2 - Genre of Tragedy

Act 2 fits the Classical tragedy and the Shakespearean tragedy the best.

For the classical, Othello’s flaw in reasoning about the character of Iago being a “good and honest man” meant that Othello relieved Cassio from his duties allowing   Iago’s plan to prosper. It could also be argued that Othello has a slight revelation about fate in this Act when he says “for I fear…That not another comfort like to this/Succeeds in unknown fate”. The structure of Othello also fits the classical tragedy as it has 5 Acts and in the 2^nd Act complications arises – Iago starts to stir up trouble.

For the Shakespearean, there is a mix of prose and verse in this act when Iago speaks: “She that was frail and never proud/Had tongue at will, and yet was never loud”. There are also moments of comic relief when Iago is singing drinking songs and Cassio’s failed attempt at proving he’s not drunk. The conflict caused by Iago’s success at getting Cassio drunk meant that it contrasted with the happiness before in Venice – another element of Shakespearean tragedy.