Act 2 of Othello runs 735 lines across 3 scenes, carrying about 20.7% of the play’s total dialogue with 14 named speakers. It’s longer than the play’s average act (712 lines).
Act opens (Scene 1, Montano): “What from the cape can you discern at sea?”
Act closes (Scene 3, Iago): “Dull not device by coldness and delay.”
The 3 scenes of Act 2
Who speaks in Act 2
The leading voice is Iago with 50% of Act 2’s dialogue (365 lines).
| Character | Lines in act | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Iago ♂ | 365 | 49.7% |
| Cassio ♂ | 131 | 17.8% |
| Othello ♂ | 87 | 11.8% |
| Montano ♂ | 54 | 7.3% |
| Desdemona ♀ | 31 | 4.2% |
| Third Gentleman ♂ | 17 | 2.3% |
| Roderigo ♂ | 15 | 2.0% |
How Act 2 of Othello compares to other tragedys
| Play | Act 2 lines | Scenes |
|---|---|---|
| Antony and Cleopatra | 883 | 7 |
| Coriolanus | 762 | 3 |
| Hamlet | 748 | 2 |
| Othello (this act) | 735 | 3 |
| Romeo and Juliet | 685 | 7 |
| King Lear | 678 | 4 |
| Julius Caesar | 552 | 4 |
| Titus Andronicus | 538 | 4 |
| Macbeth | 396 | 4 |
| Timon of Athens | 291 | 2 |
About Act 2 of Othello
How many lines are in Act 2 of Othello?
735 lines spread across 3 scenes.
Who dominates Act 2?
Iago delivers 50% of the act’s dialogue (365 lines).