What are the imagery, atmosphere, character development and themes or recurring ideas in Act 2 scene 1 lines 89-97 of Othello?Act 2 scene 1 lines...

Here in Act II.i of Othello, Cassio
uses multi-faceted
imagery:

• mythological
  ("Jove")


• religious ("heaven," "let her have your
  knees")


• supernatural
  ("spirits")


• wealth
  ("riches")


• body ("Desdemona's
  arms")


• nautical ("captain,"
  "shore")


• light/dark
  ("fire")

All told, the
atmosphere is one of religious observance and celebration,
for not only has Venice defeated the Turk at sea, but their fleet has escaped a storm,
and Desdemona has safely arrived.  Cassio is serving as a kind of Chorus, narrating the
action, and priest, reifying Desdemona, much like the Virgin Madonna.  After all, many
miracles have happened so that Desdemona (a civilian) could be allowed to follow her
military husband to a remote island during a war.  Other miracles include her being
allowed to marry a black-a-Moor in the first place.

The
atmosphere is also filled with verbal irony and foreshadowing.  Cassio glorifies
Desdemona so much that it will prove nearly fatal for him in the end.  Iago will expose
Cassio's reverence, using it as fodder for Othello's
jealousy.

The speech foreshadows the destruction that will
come later on Cyprus.  Ironically, this scene is "as good as it gets" for the
characters Cassio, Othello, and Desdmona.  They think, with
defeat of the Turk, that they have won the war and the island will be a kind of
paradise.  Little do they realize that Cyprus will be filled with the
themes of chaos, jealousy, and death.  Cassio will stab the
governor and nearly be killed by Roderigo and Iago.  Desdemona and Emilia will both be
killed by their husbands.  So, Cassio's religious imagery here is but a "red herring,"
setting up the audience for a temporary and false happiness.