Key Quotes Flashcards
“I know my price: I am worth no worse a place”
-Iago
Act 1 Scene 1
Iago feels he is entitled to a promotion. He doesn’t feels as though he is ‘above’ Cassio, he knows he is, highlighting his arrogant nature. Deemed as overlooked, as if he is of high value.
Affirmation
“And what was he?
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
More than a spinster”
misogynistic, states that cassio is not qualified, he lacks military experience and emasculates him
patronizing tone, misogynistic
“I follow him to serve my turn upon him.
We cannot all be masters, nor all masters
Cannot be truly followed.”
he reveals his plans to deceive Othello, this emphasises his machiavellianism.
“Who, trimmed in forms and visages of duty,
Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves
And, throwing but shows of service on their lords,
Do well thrive by them. And when they have lined
their coats, do themselves homage”
deceives Othello like he’s deceiving Roderigo, he exploits people in order to gain an advantage. his persona is a facade. he admires people who act like this, believes it is morally just.
“In following him, I follow but myself.
Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,
But seeming so, for my peculiar end.”
repetition of not ‘following’ Othello shows us how Iago is constantly trying to affirm that he has the power and is in control. he will be the one steering the plot.
equivocal language, biblical references
“I am not what I am”
paradoxical statement. superficially moral, all an act, facade
“Call up her father.
Rouse him. Make after him, Poison his delight,
Proclaim him in the streets. Incense her kinsmen,
And, though he in a fertile climate dwell,
Plague him with flies. Though that his joy be joy
Yet throw such changes of vexation on’t,
As it may lose some color”
Iago takes pleasure from hurting others, he has no regard for authority, he is disrespectful, will go to extreme lengths to get what he wants, is taking the role of God, may link to his motiveless malignity; he is a sadist
biblical reference
“Zounds, sir, you’re robbed! For shame, put on your
gown.
Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul.
Even now, now, very now, an old black ram
Is tupping your white ewe. “
highlights Iago’s racial prejudice, he exaggerates the truth, twisting things to sound worse, causes unnecessary panic, he thrives off of disorder, patronizes Desdemona, emphasis on race shows how Iago mirrors the animosity venetian society had towards interracial marriages
beastly imagery
