Alarm

Even at this early stage in the play there is reason to feel alarm. The audience is well aware of Iago’s hatred and malign intentions, and his asides frame their meeting. Only moments before Othello’s entrance Iago rejoices in drawing Desdemona and Cassio into his web (line168 ff).That Cassio has comforted Desdemona at this anxious time will be a further reason for her to plead for him later in the play. Immediately after Othello and Desdemona seal their declaration of love with a kiss, Iago reminds us of his presence.

But there is another, more paradoxical, reason for Othello’s greeting to sound alarm bells. The greater Othello’s rapture, the more vulnerable he is to Iago’s scheming. He describes his happiness as the greatest he has ever known and “so absolute” that he fears that he will not experience “another comfort like to this”.  Iago, in his aside, takes up Othello’s use of the word “discord” and vows to destroy the harmony of their love. The greater and more public Othello’s declaration of love, the more he has to lose and the greater the satisfaction Iago will gain in destroying it. His menacing, vengeful presence is a constant and fearful reminder of the harm he could do.

Relief

Naturally there is relief in the safe and successful end to Othello’s expedition, and relief is certainly an emotion which is experienced by Desdemona (whose first words on landing in Cyprus expressed her concern for Othello’s safety). The audience must also feel relieved that she has been rescued from having to endure Iago’s bawdy and cynical views on women. We see she has had to make an effort to appear cheerful before this “most profane and liberal counsellor”; in an aside she admits that she has had to hide her true feelings, “I do beguile / The thing I am by seeming otherwise.”