Othello quotes
"An old black ram is tupping your white ewe" (1.1.89-90)
Iago about Othello 's relationship with Des. Colour imagery, juxtaposition between the two depictions, "black" almost satanic or evil whereas "white" has connotations of innocence and purity. Also zoomorphism is present ('old black ram'), this suggests how he is dehumanised and contemptuously disregarded in this society; his status as a general is diminished.
"Ha! I like not that" (3.3.35)
Iago's language is very indirect when he draws attention to Cassio's hasty departure but he succeeds in planting the seed of suspicion in Othello's mind here. He does not finish his sentences, he says a lot of short lines and rhetorical questions, a lot of it, he leaves up to Othello to construe.
"Work on, My medicine, work!" (4.1.2-3)
Iago's reaction straight after Othello falls in a trance. This scene arouses fear as the tragic hero has only so far been presented as noble, confident and assured is now but a feeble puppet.
"He's done my office" (1.3.370)
Iago's soliloquy, he gives a possible reason for his hatred towards Othello, he thinks Othello slept with his wife but is unsure.
"Why he hath thus ensnared my soul and body?" (5.2.299)
Image of entrapment, it also suggests the nature of Iago.
"We must not now displease him" (4.3.16)
Imperative verb 'must' suggest she thinks she does not have a choice, Shakespeare is presenting her nature - she is quite docile. Virtuous, putting Othello's wants before her own. She promoted obedience as this was something widely taught to women because of the bible.
"Farewell the tranquil mind!" (3.3.349)
In Act 3, scene 3 alone, Othello becomes suspicious of Desdemona's infidelity, disregards the idea to becoming convinced of it saying he can no longer have piece of mind because of how drastically it has affected him.
"She gave me for my pains a world of sighs" (1.3.158)
In Othello's second soliloquy describing how Desdemona fell for him, she was empathetic to his struggles as an ethnic minority.
"Why did I marry?" (3.3)
Othello after just a brief conversation with Iago, is already doubting his epic love with Desdemona.
"Give thy worst of thoughts" (3.3.130)
Othello demands Iago speak his mind. However bad it may be.
"O, damn her, damn her!" (3.3.476)
Othello forgets his passion-filled love and tosses her aside without a moments thought is seems like. This happens at the very end of Act 3, scene 3.
"Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire!" (5.2.278)
Othello fully realises he has murdered an innocent woman and expects punishments from hell.
"Handkerchief - confessions - handkerchief!" (4.1.36-7)
Othello gradually being driven mad by the thought of Cassio sleeping with Desdemona, he is unable to form sentences. This suggests the impact of her supposed infidelity was so drastic, the tragic hero undergoes a state where he acts involuntarily. This is the moment of catastrophe as everything is falling apart for Othello.
"An honourable murder" (5.2.291)
Othello knows he about to die, he puts his best efforts to try and salvage what's left of his reputation in this oxymoron. He felt that he did what he did for valid reasons.
"I love the gentle Desdemona" (1.2.25)
Othello on Desdemona. He is respectful and not afraid to disclose personal, intimate information to Iago, suggests he is comfortable talking to Iago about this.
"Keep up your bright swards for the dew will rust them" (1.2.59)
Othello presented as authoritative, assured and confident again in his language. He is saying 'as long as he is there, you won't need your swards'. The imperative 'keep up' suggest his confidence as it is a command. Speaking in blank verse typical of tragic hero's as it connotes order and control in Shakespeare plays.
"Death and damnation! O!" (3.3.397)
he's become savage-like, exclamation marks emphasise his anger.
"She has deceived her father and may thee" (1.3.289)
Said by Brabantio (Des's dad) to Othello. A haunting sense of foreboding about what is about to unravel.
"But here's my husband" (1.3.183)
Desdemona validating her reasoning for obeying Othello before her father. Use of the adversarial conjunction "But" suggests this. She is exposing the hypocrisy by mentioning how her mother preferred him over her father. She is presented as quite logical and rational, something which mostly subverts our initial thoughts about her seeing as people have been speaking for her so far.
"I must weep" (5.2.20)
Act 5, scene 2 opens with a soliloquy by Othello in which he has come to murder Desdemona, the playwrights use of the imperative 'must' throughout the soliloquy suggests Othello feels compelled to kill his wife, not that he necessarily wants to. The plays tragedy is emphasised soon after when he realises she does not deserve to dies.
"far more fair than black" (1.3.286)
After Othello is vindicated the Duke says this to Desdemona's father insinuating his attitude towards him is positive. Seen through Shakespeare's use of colour imagery as "fair" could mean white which has connotations of purity. He is suggesting that Othello does not posses the characteristics commonly attributed to those who were black at the time as blackness was seen and evil almost demonic.
"I'll tear her all to pieces!" (3.3.433)
After hearing anecdotal evidence, the tragic hero undergoes a dramatic phycological change, he abandons logic and reason and becomes aggressive and beast-like. Shakespeare uses bestial imagery with the harsh verb "tear", this and his anger reinforced with the use of the exclamation mark.
"As I am an honest man" (2.3.245)
After the drunken fight between Cassio and Montano by which Othello denounces Cassio immediately. This is dramatic irony seeing as how just before, Iago had planned to make him drink and quarrelsome.
"Give me the ocular proof" (3.3.361)
Demands evidence from Iago, he has not undergone the complete psychological change just yet, but his reactions could be seen as quite hasty.
"I saw Othello's visage in his mind" (1.3.48)
Desdemona saying she saw past his colour and fell in love with his mind.
"You are lord of all my duty" (1.3.182)
Desdemona testifying for Othello, quite diplomatic seeing as she is acknowledging his status in her life; use of word "all" suggests all encompassing, total. She suggests he has a say in every aspect of her life.
"And pour our treasures into foreign laps... they strike us" (4.1.84-86)
Emilia argues for equality and equal respect in marriages where she speaks in verse; this suggests the importance of what she is about to say. She is describing infidelity and the double standards which they had. This is quite progressive given Shakespeare's time. The consequence which is presented with the harsh verb 'strike' emphasises the harshness of some marriages, this arouses pity.
"The ills we do, their ills instruct us so" (4.3.99)
Emilia continuing her highly feminist speech saying that women do not stray or commit 'ills' out of the blue, it is the actions of men which lead them to.
"I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to speak" (5.2.183)
Emilia openly defying her husband, significant as women were under the tutelage of their husbands. Her character changes as she becomes really assertive, she was not like this initially.
"Let him do his spite" (1.2.17)
First line Othello says, he is very calm, centred, assured, this is why his response exudes confidence - as seen with Shakespeare's use of the imperative 'let'. Shakespeare challenges racial stereotypes of the time by having him behave this way initially. Or it could connote arrogance, could be seen as an indication of what will lead to his undoing.
"My friend... honest, honest Iago" (5.2.153)
First time he calls Iago his friend. Honesty is a leitmotif for Iago. Dramatic irony as the audience know Iago is far from being honest. This moment heightens tensions and build to the denouement.
"I'll not believe it" (3.3.281)
He seems to reject his suspicious as soon as Desdemona comes into his sight. He seems assured in his dismissal of Iago's implied claims.
"One not easily jealous but ... perplexed in the extreme" (5.2.341-2)
He almost excusing himself essentially. AC Bradley's opinion on Othello's downfall centre around the notion that Iago was relentless in his pillage of Othello's mind - he was pushed to the extreme.
Iago has another soliloquy (2.1.p 65)
He describes he is seeking revenge because he suspects Othello has slept with Emilia but also plans to use Roderigo to ensure the downfall of Cassio whom he also assumes to have slept with his wife.
"I'll pour this pestilence into his ear" (2.3.323)
Iago details his exact plan on how he will bring Othello down in a soliloquy. He will tell him lies by the multitude, this is suggested through Shakespeare use of the verb 'pour'.
"How?How?... to abuse Othello's ear" (1.3.376-7)
Iago establishing how he will bring the tragic hero down in his soliloquy. Use of repetition creates dramatic tension as the audience want to know his plan. He says he will exploit his "free and open nature". The fact that he knows Othello's virtuous qualities suggest how close the two must be and the fact that he "follows to serve his turn upon him" heightens the tragedy and makes it even more cathartic as Shakespeare implies that there was a deep betrayal.
"'Tis the curse of service" (1.1.35)
Iago explaining part of his motive to tear Othello down.
"I lack iniquity / Sometimes to do me service" (1.2.3-4)
Iago in the opening of Act 1 Scene 2, which is still dark. He says he is too nice for his good, ironic because in the first line, he says "I have slain men" suggesting his violent and dark side, already he is portrayed as fickle. Shakespeare continuing from "I am not what I am".
"O beware, my lord, of jealousy" (3.3.167) "It's the green-eyed monster which doth mock / The meat it feeds on"
Iago proficiently engenders jealousy within Othello by warning him against it. Shakespeare also includes animal imagery to describe the emotion, connoting how it can become beast-like in its pillage.
"My lord you know I love you" (3.3.118)
Iago responding to Othello pressing him to reveal his thoughts. The adjacency pairs are interesting as he avoids the question and changes the subject with an almost flattering, cajoling tone.
"Her delicate tenderness will find itself abused" (2.1.221)
Iago talking to Roderigo plotting to bring about Othello's downfall and Desdemona's submittal Roderigo. Iago says he will manipulate Desdemona's nature also to help his plan.
"One that loved not wisely, but too well" (5.2.340)
In his obituary, Othello says he it was because if his intense love for Desdemona that he was driven to kill her. Agin trying to salvage his reputation.
"I am obedient" (3.3.89)
Ironic that Desdemona says this after probing Othello relentlessly to meet with Cassio. She was very persistent.
"Men should be what they seem" (3.3.127)
Ironically, Iago says this as in this very moment he is being disingenuous by tricking Othello.
"She wakes" (5.2.22)
Othello saying this at the end of his soliloquy adds dramatic tension.
"I will kill thee And love thee after" (5.2.18-19)
Paradox as he believes that killing her is the only way to help their love survive.
"Nobody; I myself" (5.2.125)
Pronoun 'I' suggests she is taking responsibility. Despite all he's done, she still defends him, emphasises love and loyalty. Or it could be seen as Desdemona's anagnorisis as she only has herself to blame for marrying Othello.
"O, the more angel she, And you the blacker devil!" (5.2.131-2)
Religious imagery in Emilia's reaction. Emilia is not afraid to speak her mind. His coincides with the beginning of the play. The speed at which he does from respected general to reviled outsider reveals the strength of prejudices in the 17th century.
"Honest Iago" (1.3.290)
Said by Othello an many throughout the whole play; significant as he is able to hide behind this facade from just about everyone he wants to for a majority of the play.
"Micheal Cassio... That never set a squadron in the field" (1.1.23)
Shak is exposing Iago's jealousy of Cassio as he'd just been promoted where as he has not.
"We are all but food; They eat us hungerly, and when they are full They belch us" (3.4.98-99)
Shakespeare has Emilia voice some very progressive ideas about women in this metaphor. She is describing how women were objectified by men in the seventeen century which is the time Othello was published.
"Arise black vengeance, from thy hollow cell!" (3.3.448)
Shakespeare present the effects of jealousy. He includes colour imagery to connote evil again. Here, Othello embraces the stereotypes places upon him by society.
"My parts, my title, and my perfect soul / Shall manifest me rightly" (1.2.31-32)
Shakespeare uses a triadic structure here when having Othello list his good, appealing traits.
"He strikes her" (4.1.230)
Shakespeare writes in the stage directions that Othello hits Desdemona. This marks the place whereby he fully and openly embraces the stereotypes of black people in the seventeen century. He is openly aggressive as this is in front of the Venetian delegation.
"sweet revenge grows harsh" (5.2.117)
Starting to the see the futility of everything he's done as Cassio is not dead, just injured. This heightens the tragedy.
"[Othello will] be led by the nose" (1.3.383)
Still in Iago's soliloquy, he describes how Othello will follow him blindly and let his desires think for him, he will not be level headed and reasonable like he was just presented to be.
"Had stomach for them all" (5.2.76)
Suggests how he is ruled by his impulses, reaffirms the stereotypes fisted upon by society by behaving barbarically.
(Shakespeare has Oth continue saying) "I tremble at it" (4.1.38) "He falls in a trance"
The verb 'tremble' emphasises just how much it's affected him that he is weakened in a way by it, it also signifies the plays calamity.
"I follow him to serve my turn upon him" (1.1.42)
This could be seen as something which builds tension, as it's so early on, the tragedy is heightened and the cathartic impact arguably stronger as the audience know of the challenges Othello is about to face.
"my peculiar end" (1.1.61)
This could foreshadow Iago's outcome, adjective 'peculiar' also foreshadows that it will be a strange demise.
"I have no wife. O insupportable!" (5.2.98-99)
This is Othello's moment of anagnorisis, he begins to realise what he has done.
"I am not what I am"
This is an idiom said by Iago. It is a simple sentence which Shakespeare inverts language in a paradoxical way. He is not who he presents himself to be.
(The) Denouement
Tragic term. It means the unravelling of them truth and tying up any loose ends of the play.
"I nothing but to please his fantasy" (3.3.301)
Upon stealing the handkerchief, she is quite subservient and docile. Pronoun 'I' next to the word 'nothing' suggests how frivolous she and a lot of other women in Shakespeare's time were perceived. She exists solely to please him.
