The scene closes with Brabantio’s discovery that his daughter is missing, stolen from him by “magic charms” and the lot of them going to confront Othello. Scene 2 The second scene takes to Othello’s lodgings and Iago again leading the way. Iago arrives and warns Othello of Brabantio’s anger and his intentions to nullify the marriage in divorce. As the two talk, men appear, walking towards the residence. These men however are not Brabantio’s, but Cassio and his own retinue, carrying word from the Duke that Othello has been requested as a matter of discussion of Cyprus. As Othello’s men prepare to leave, Brabantio and Roderigo arrive, fully prepared to fight. Othello however, quells the arising conflict with a command to put up their swords and explains that he is requested by the Duke. Brabantio decides that this suits his needs as well and he will bring his case before the Duke for consideration. Scene 3
the free lunch. And what is true in this universe is of course actually true. But there are things that are in fact false, yet might have been true. Things might have gone otherwise; the world could have been different from the way it is. Someone other than Brown might have succeeded Tony Blair as Prime Minister, I might have married a different person (which would have been a mistake), and I know I could have finished writing this book sooner if I had had a private secretary and a retinue of servants including a personal chef and a couple of hired killers. Thus there are a number of ways the world might have been. To put it slightly more fancifully, there are alternative worlds. Different worlds, worlds that could have been ours, but that are only possible and not actual. Think of an array of possible universes, corresponding to the infinitely many ways in which things, very broadly speaking, might have gone. All these possible worlds represent nonactual global possibilities