Othello Quotes

CASSIO 'Dear general, I never gave you cause.' OTHELLO 'I do believe it, and I ask your pardon. Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devil Why he hath thus ensnared my soul and body?' IAGO 'Demand me nothing: what you know, you know: From this time forth I never will speak word.'

All is revealed to Othello

More Act 3, Scene 3 juice: 'Why did I marry?' 'curse of marriage' 'Villain, be sure thou prove my love a ' 'I think my wife be honest, and think she is not' - line 387 Comes bang at the middle of the play - perhaps he now has two opposing roads to take?

Already decided his wife is false? 'His' Des is gone forever even though he resists Iago's version of her until he is told the story of Cassio's dream line 362 - there is a violent change in Othello Not sure what to believe but violence of speech and imagery of above indicates Iago is winning

Othello claims Des has a 'liberal heart'

At first seems like a compliment, but creates irony as audience see that he is saying that she gives way to love too freely.

'I did proceed upon just grounds To this extremity'

Attempts to justify the murder - conveys his attitude that murder is just a punishment for infidelity

'My noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty. To you I am bound for life and education. My life and education both do learn me How to respect you. You are the lord of my duty, I am hitherto your daughter. But here's my husband, and so much duty as my mother showed To you, preferring you before her father, So much I challenge that I may profess Due to the Moor my Lord'

Interesting that she still refers to her husband as The Moor. Des has her voice heard and her view respected

'O, beware, my lord, of Jealous; It is the green eyed monster, which doth mock The meat it feeds on' - Iago, Act 3, Scene 3

Is there any significance in the fact that this was said by Iago? does he know jealousy all too well?

Act 4 Scene 2 - 'I cry you mercy then, I took you for that cunning ***** of Venice That married with Othello'

His wifed presence is painful to him. He dramatises himself here using 3rd person - has to distance himself from what he is saying to justify his words and actions - perhaps agrees with Leavis who believes he is dramatic at end.

'Valiant' Othello -----older 'erring barbarian' 'Divine' Desdemona -- young, beautiful 'super subtle Venetian' and the ironically labelled 'Honest Iago'

Iago the 'superb Artist of evil' on his 'motive hunting of motiveless malignity' Coleridge

'The Moor already changes with my poison' 'O, you are well tuned now! But I'll set down the pegs that make this music.'

Iago's intermittent soliloquies inform the audience of his intentions to manipulate Othello.

'Demand me nothing: what you know, you know'

Iagos last words

'Rude am I in my speech, And little blessed with the soft phrase of peace'

Indicator of a lack of self knowledge? or is he humble bragging? Because either way at this point he is super smooth - strong rhetoric - and not at all rude in his speech

'She must change for youth; When she is sated with his body, She will find the error of her choice: She must have change, she must; therefore put money in thy purse.'

A worry that Othello perhaps feels hence his paranoia over the whole situation and potential jealousy of Cassio. Sweeping generalisation/belief in a stereotype from Iago.

'Little of this great world can I speak More than pertains to feats of broil and battle'

Admits that a domestic setting is not familiar to him.

'Tis better as it is'

Othello's first line

'I kissed thee ere I killed thee. No way but this, Killing myself, to die upon a kiss'

Othello's last words

'Set you down this, And say besides that in Aleppo once, Where a malignant and a turbaned Turk Beat a Venetian and traduced the state, I took by th' throat the circumcised dog And smote him thus'

Othello's words before he kills himself. -Smooth and eloquent once again. -Reaffirms his position as an outsider -No longer inarticulate, has calmed, regained his dignity and perhaps our respect -echoes back to Act 1, Scene 3, reminds ud of his martial prowess/strong rhetoric -Identifies with the Turk, and those who pose a threat to Venice. -Suicide is perhaps martyrdom, a last act of service to the state as he kills the only foe he has left to conquer: himself

Iago - 'Yours, by this hand; and to see how he prizes the foolish woman your wife! She gave it him, and he hath given it hi!' Othello - 'Ay let her rot, and perish and be damned tonight, for she shall not live. No, my heart is turned to stone: I strike it and it hurts my hand. O, the world hath not a sweeter creature: She might lie by an emperors side and command him tasks' 'Pish! Noses, ears and lips--Is't possible?--Confess--handkerchief!--O devil!--' Falls in a trance

Othellos literal lowest point in Act 4, Scene 1 following crisis point of act 3 scene 3 - shown by him speaking in prose for the first time.

'I pray you, in your letters When you shall these unlucky deeds relate, Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate, Nor set down aught in malice. Then must you speak Of one that loved not wisely but too well; Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought, Perplexed in the extreme'

Part of Othello's final speech

'Nothing can, nor shall content my soul Till I am evened with him, wife for wife'

Perhaps a motive?

'Look to her, Moor, if thou has eyes to see. She has deceived her father. And may thee'

Perhaps wise words from Brabantio - they are never referenced again but perhaps they play on Othello's mind once Iago starts acting on his plan?

'Men in rage strike those that wish them best'

Quite literally when Othello strikes Des, the woman who loves him

Roderigo - 'What a full fortune does the thick lips owe. If he can carry't thus!'

Racist - presents Othello before we even meet him R and I paint an unflattering portrait of the general - described as proud, pompous and boastful. He proves it all wrong to the audience when introduced though as he comes across as measured, dignified and commanding.

Des death scene - 'Alas! What ignorant sin have I committed?'

Represents lack of understanding between them as seen previously when she says 'it yet has felt no age, nor known no sorrow' when Othello chastises her for having moist hands and she takes it as a compliment of her youthfulness. Use of the word committed references one of the 10 commandments about adultery - further inflames Othello's rage - seals her fate. Arguable reveals a cause of the overall tragedy - they do not know each other - allows Iago's manipulation to take effect easier.

Act 4, Scene 1 - [falls into trance]

Same man who made amazing speeches and had such strong rhetoric has become completely inarticulate such an extent that he has a fit.

'Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them' Insists that were it his cue to fight, he 'should have known it without a prompter'

Shakespeare elevates his status by giving him musical language. He is an excellent general. Respects his wife (gives her a voice to speak for herself), and is confident to speak his love in public 'If it were now to die, Twere now to be most happy' He is therefore in many ways, noble and admirable

'--Confess--handkerchief!--O devil!'

Shakespeare using fragmented prose rather than Othello's usual verse, conveys his mental weakening and his fit serves as physical manifestation of his inner turmoil.

Emilia on men - 'They are all but stomachs, and we all but food; They eat us hungrily, and when they are full, They belch us'

She is aware of the patriarchy and objectification of women within this society. Depends upon how actress says this line but she could either be accepting of it or sorrowful in the shame of it

'This to hear would Desdemona seriously incline.... and with a greedy ear Devour up my discourse'

She loves his stories - but does she love him for who he is as a person and vice versa? Does he even know who he is?

Venetian play Merchant of Venice says 'love is blind and lovers cannot see The pretty follies that themselves commit'

Shows that Os love for Des is blinding so much so that he is becomes inarticulate and narrow in his options.

'She lov'd me for the dangers I had pass'd, And I lov'd her that she did pity them' 'This only is the witchcraft I have used; Here comes the lady; let her witness it'

So he just likes his ego being stroked? flaw? Very trusting in Des at this point yet doesn't believe a word she says later - trusts fully in Iago yet who is only superficially 'honest'

Lodovico - instructs audience and Iago to 'look on the tragic loading' of the bed of Desdemona and Othello where the married couple + Emilia lie dead.

Stark image that completes the tragic pattern.

Emelia - 'I am glad I have found this napkin. This was her first remembrance from the Moor, My wayward husband hath a hundred times Wooe'd me to steal it, but she so loves the token ............. And give't Iago. What he will do with it, Heaven knows, not I; I nothing but to please his fantasy'

Tells the audience of its place in the tragedy Represents O and D's oldest and purest feelings for each other Announces the beginning of the handkerchief plot Dropping of hanky is seemingly insignificant event - becomes the means by which they are all undone. She is aware that Iago is 'wayward' (difficult to control or predict because of wilful or perverse behaviour) yet doesn't mention that he is in possession of the hanky when it comes up later

'If heaven would make me such another world Of one entire and a perfect chrysolite I'd not have sold her for it'

Tragic stature rises when he realises what he has thrown away and that his tragic stature rises when he realises what he has thrown away and he is elevated by the quality of his speech.

'Haply for I am black'

could link to Ira Aldridge, the first black actor to portray Othello.

'For when my outward action doth demonstrate the native act and figure of my heart in compliment extern, tis not long after but I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at; I am not what I am'

extension on Iago's true self

'Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul But I do love thee! And when I love thee not, chaos is come again'

foreshadow - chaos is certainly on the way but he never falls out of love with her does he? Suggests that he will be utterly lost if his love is destroyed. Perdition and chaos are two negative abstract nouns that hint the trouble to come. Dramatic irony here that audience will catch on to. why, if he feels so strongly for Des, does he give in to feelings of doubt and jealousy so swiftly. - Already in the grip of emotions that he cannot handle?

his love turns from 'a fountain from which current runs' to a 'cistern for foul toads to knot and gender in'

foul imagery of toads taking the place of his love for Des shows how his previous source of strength and virtue has warped, becoming a vice.

[striking her] Devil!

ouch!

'Ah balmy breath, that dost almost persuade Justice to break her sword!'

portrays his view that murder of Des some justice is being served.

'This hand of yours requires A sequester from liberty, fasting and prayer Much castigation, exercise devout'

reflects typical attitude of men at time - expected subservience from their wives and believed female sexual appetite had to be controlled as it was easily led into sin - inherent sin of women stemming from transgression of eve in garden of eden.

O 'and yet nature, erring on itself'

repetition of motif of their marriage being unnatural - evidence that Othello's incompatibility with society he is in is main factor in the tragedy.

'The desperate Tempest' that 'hath so banged the Turks'

war cut short - play turns into a domestic tragedy

'By heaven, you do me wrong'

Des protests her innocence

'Ill tear her all to pieces"

'Iagoisation' of his speech - words become more disjointed, thoughts become more wild and bloody. This is perhaps his most arresting line.

'Reputation x3! Oh I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial' - Cassio

'Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving' - Iago, Act 2, Scene 3 - he thinks Cassio did'nt deserve the role of lieutenant, is he firing shots her?

Lodovico - 'Myself will be straight aboard; and to the state This heavy act with heavy heart relate'

Closing lines of the play

Des - 'I saw Othello's visage in his mind'

Deliberately emphasises how her love for him transcends all racial barriers

DESDEMONA A guiltless death I die. EMILIA O, who hath done this deed? DESDEMONA Nobody; I myself. Farewell Commend me to my kind lord: O, farewell! Dies

Des damns herself by lying on her deathbed. Protects her husband - sign of true love??

Act 3 Scene 3 - 'I have a pain upon my forehead here'

Devil horns connotation.

Act 5, Scene 1 [Re-enter Iago, with a light]

Devilish implications here as Lucifer was carried the light

'She gave for my pains a world of sighs'

Does he just like his ego being stroked rather than liking Des for who she is? Attempting to use her as a means of no longer being an outsider in Venice? - But then why did he marry her in secret?

'Your napkin is too little:' [He puts the handkerchief from him; and it drops]

Dropping of a hanky - turns out to be more significant than one would ever imagine - 'Theres magic in the web of it'

'Do it not with poison. Strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated'

Even the way in which he kills he is dictated by Iago

'Men should be what they seem' - Othello

Iago certainly isn't - ironic - is Othello too trusting of people, does he just believe that everyone is as they seem?

Iago - 'Drown thyself? Drown cats and blind puppies'

Iago convincing Roderigo not to kill himself - he Is a part of his plan he cant afford to lose him

Cassio - 'O God, that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains!"

Iago has done this to Cassio and Othello - Cassio knows what has happened but still doesn't consider it to be Iago that did it

'I am one, sir, that comes to tell you that your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs' 'Tupping your white ewe'

Iago informing Brabantio crudely of his daughters relationship with 'what she feared to look upon' - fear of miscegenation 'against all rules of nature'

'put money in thy purse'

Iago is toying with Roderigo 'for my sport and profit'

'This is the night that either makes or fordoes me quite'

Iago may simply be doing this because he enjoys the thrill/adrenaline rush

Iago - 'I am not what I am' Only follows Othello to 'serve my turn open him'

Iago says the exact opposite of what God said 'I am what I am' - which has devilish implications

Iago - 'he hath a daily beauty in his life that makes me ugly'

Iago says this of Cassio - is he jealous? implies that he will destroy anything/everything that diminishes him.

'Forsooth a great arithmetician, One Michael Cassio, A Florentine A fellow almost damned in a fair wife That never set a squadron in the field, Nor the division of a battle knows' 'counter caster' 'mere prattle without practice'

Othello must see something in Cassio - orris he a poor judge of character? Either way this is perhaps a motive for Iago, he is not happy that Cassio has the job that he wants

'For she had eyes and chose me'

Othello proving he did not win her by witchcraft

'It is the cause'

Othello sees himself as minister of justice. It is arguably not his jealousy that drives him to kill her but his sense of justice

'To be once in doubt is to be once resolved'

Othello so quick to believe that she is unfaithful - he is fatally impulsive in nature

'The Moor is of a free and open nature, That thinks men honest that but seem to be so'

Othello's blindness/myopia to the true nature of those around him - thinks des unfaithful and thinks Iago honest.

Othello is 'a great man naturally modest but fully conscious of his worth' 'any man situated as Othello would have been disturbed by Iago's communications' 'his fall is never complete' his problem is that 'he is a soldier that stepped into a house'

Views held by A.C. Bradley

'Trifles light as air are to the jealous confirmations wrong as proof of holy writ'

Who would have thought such an insignificant seeming piece of fabric would cause such damage

'And whats he then that says I play the villain?'

almost braggadocious - states it so obviously yet still nobody catches on