Cassio quotes Flashcards
’Tis my breeding
That gives me this bold show of courtesy.’ (2.1.)
-Cassio makes this comment to Iago after greeting Emilia with a kiss. He intends to signal that he did not mean any disrespect by kissing another man’s wife but that this sort of behaviour is simply part of the good manners he is used to displaying.
-He might also be commenting on manners in his native Florence being different from what would be expected in Venice.
-The quote is significant because it shows how Cassio’s gallant and possibly even flirtatious behavior could be open to misinterpretation, a weakness Iago will later exploit.
‘Oh, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself and what remains is bestial.’ (2.3.)
-Cassio says these lines in shame and sadness after Othello has angrily chastised him and stripped him of his position.
-Although not physically hurt, Cassio knows he has lost his public image and the respect of Othello, both of which pain him.
-The quote shows how much value Cassio places on his honor and reputation, and how he would never willingly do something shameful.
‘Men of Cyprus, let her have your knees’
Cassio immediately places Desdemona on a pedestal by highlighting the immediate power over man she has. This could be seen as a reference to Desdemona as Jesus, since he sees her as a pure being above everyone on land. Cassio’s admiration for Desdemona foreshadows he link between the two, unintentionally placing weight and reason behind Iago’s manipulations and plans. The idea of Desdemona being the perfect woman could be a reference to the goddess Aphrodite. However, this does imply that Desdemona can also be manipulative and full of sexual desire, directly foreshadowing the reasons behind her eventual demise.
‘Reputation, reputation! O I have lost my reputation’
The use of triplets exaggerates and highlights how consumed by his appearances and how he is perceived. The audience loses some respect for Cassio after seeing how leaning into his hamartia [drunkenness] has forced him to think purely through his emotions rather than his intellect, leading to the revelation of his shallow nature. This reminds the audience that humanity is flawed , with the truth being there is no such thing as the perfect man.
‘The divine Desdemona’ (2.1)
-Religious connotations of the adjective. Associates her with heaven, which is the dichotomy of the hellish imagery used to describe Othello
-Has a hyperbolic tone and a courtly lover style of speech
-Lots of respect for Desdemona, and it is this lyrical smoothness that Iago manipulates to use a plot device.
