Othello (Blog 3)
By: William Shakespeare

As Act II opens, it is described that the Turkish fleet was separated and even possibly wrecked.  The waves were rough, and the fleet could not stay together.  When Michael Cassio arrives, he explains that he and Othello were separated.  He is unsure as to where his friend is.  Desdemona arrives much earlier than expected, and Cassio is shocked.  He lies about not knowing where her husband is.  Desdemona still is worried, but these worries are relieved when Othello shows up later in Scene 1.  I think that his arrival is proof that he and Desdemona truly love each other.  In Act I, Brabantio feared that Othello forced or tricked his beloved daughter into marriage.  However, the two seem to be very happy as a married couple.  Othello expresses how overjoyed he is to see that his wife has arrived early.  Desdemona responds to this by saying, "the heavens forbid but that our loves and comforts should increase, even as our days do grow" (II.i.178-180).  She is saying that even though their love is forbidden (by Brabantio and others), the love that they share will only grow as they grow older together.