The Turkish fleet is destroyed in a storm.
Detailed response
After Othello arrives in Cyprus, the Turkish fleet approaches the island with the intention of attacking. However, the fleet is destroyed in a violent storm. Shakespeare describes the storm in Act II, Scene 3: “The servants of the Duke, and my lieutenant, / The goodness of the night upon ‘t, hath given / me a catalogue of them, and as I am a soldier / a name that in my thoughts becomes me best, / If I begin the bat, let me begin the bat, too / when he is next to me . . . That now thou seest here / Put in thy chants, thy bagpipe staves, in base, / and everything / sort briefness with a dike.”
Interesting facts about the Turkish fleet after Othello arrives in Cyprus:
- The Turks were led by a character named “The Duke of Venice.” While this is not historically accurate (the Republic of Venice was an ally of the Ottoman Empire at the time), it reflects the Elizabethan audience’s perception of the Turks as a threatening force.
- The play takes place during the Venetian-Turkish Wars, a series of conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice in the late 16th century.
- The storm that destroys the Turkish fleet is often seen as a sign of divine intervention in Othello’s favor, as it eliminates the threat of attack and allows him to focus on his personal troubles.
- Some scholars have argued that the storm symbolizes Othello’s inner turmoil and the chaos that he brings to Cyprus. In this interpretation, the storm is not a natural occurrence, but rather a manifestation of Othello’s emotions.
- The Turkish fleet’s defeat is also significant because it marks the end of the external conflict in the play. From this point on, the drama centers on Othello’s jealousy and the machinations of Iago.
Table:
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Time period | Late 16th century |
| Historical context | Venetian-Turkish Wars |
| Leader of the Turks | “The Duke of Venice” |
| Significance of the storm | Divine intervention or symbol of Othello’s inner turmoil |
| End of external conflict | Marks shift in the play’s focus |
Many additional responses to your query
What happens to the Turkish fleet after Othello arrives in Cyprus? The Turkish fleet is destroyed by the storm. Othello, Desdemona and Iago arrive safely in Cyprus.
The Turkish fleet is destroyed by the storm. Othello, Desdemona and Iago arrive safely in Cyprus.
Related video
In this video, we see a storm destroying the Turkish fleet, which is preventing them from attacking Cyprus. However, the ship carrying Desdemona, Cassio, Rodrigo, Iago, and Amelia arrives safe. Iago notices that Cassio and Desdemona are close to each other and decides to use it to suggest to Othello that they might be having an affair. Moreover, Iago convinces Rodrigo to start a fight with Cassio while he is drunk, leading to Cassio’s dismissal from his position. Though Cassio is feeling dejected, Iago comforts him suggesting that he appeal to Desdemona to change Othello’s mind, further highlighting his expertise in manipulation.