Othello Act II (part 1)

I have to saw this, Act II for Othello has a disappointing opening. Act I ends and I'm thinking "yeah we got a whole war coming up for the rest of the story," and then boom war's over. How anticlimactic. The good part about the beginning though is that we get some more juicy characterization of Iago. Shakespeare throws in this little chit-chat between Iago and Desdemona (don't worry about Emilia, her character is worthless). In essence, Iago comes off as a chauvinistic but witty man. My favorite line Iago has during this conversation is the one about a woman is ugly but smart: "Shell find a white that her blackness fit." Pretty much Iago is just saying well she'll be smart enough to find a man who is as ugly as she is. Then of course, Iago reveals that he thinks women are only good for sex and housework, so that explains his caustic remarks about women. The appearance of Cassio shows a contrast to the differing views of women. Cassio cares for women and shows them affection. Cassio kisses Iago's wife, and Iago shows his love for his wife by calling her a nag. Iago, the ever good villain that he is, sees Cassio's friendly behavior around women as a mode to achieve his own ends.