Key Quotes Act 2 Flashcards
Montano- ‘what cape can you discern at sea?’
The storm is a distraction from the plot. The storm has also killed the Turkish fleet so there will no longer be a war.
‘News Lads, our wars are done’.
No longer going to be a war as the Turkish fleet have died in the storm.
‘For every minute is expectancy of one more arrivance’
They expect more people to survive. There is a fear that Othello is not going to make it.
Cassio- ‘o, let the heavens give him defence against the elements’
Let heaven give Othello defence against the storm. Let’s hope that he survives.
Cassio- ‘Tempests themselves, high seas… as having sense of beauty do omit their moral natures, letting go safely by the divine Desdemona’
This quote proves that Cassio likes Desdemona, which makes it easy for Iago to create a situation, suggesting that they are having an affair.
The quote suggests that because Desdemona is very beautiful, the storm has let her go and left her un-damaged.
Cassio- ‘the riches of the ship is come on shore’
Reinforces his feelings for Desdemona, she is the treasure of the ship in his eyes.
Cassio- ‘ let it not gall your patience, goo Iago, that I extend my manners’ kisses Emilia
Cassio is being polite to Iago’s wife Emilia by kissing her.
Iago- ‘ would she give you so much of her lips as of her tongue she oft bestows on me, you would have enough’
This is disrespectful towards women. Iago is suggesting that Emilia is a whore as she gives her lips easily to Cassio.
Iago- ‘bells in you parlours, wild cats in your kitchens, saints in your injuries, and housewives in your beds’
Iago presents a stereotypical image of what he believes a women should be like. He believes that she is nothing like these things. He also speaks to Emilia in prose at this point as a way of being disrespectful towards her, as she is of a lower class than him.
Othello- ‘oh my fair warrior’
An endearing term aimed at Desdemona. The use of fair, also meaning white could also suggests that due to the colour of her skin she is presented as being beautiful.
Iago- ‘ if she be fair and wise, fairness and wit, the one’s for use, the other useth it.’
This is a paradox- a riddle where the ideas are contradictory of each other.
If a women is pretty and small she uses her good looks to get what she wants.
Iago- ‘ she that was ever fair and never proud, had tongue and will, and yet was never loud’
The use of rhyming couplets gives the speech energy and meaning. Iago talks about his idea of a perfect women.
Iago- ‘to suckle fools and chronicle small beer’
Iago believes that the only job of a women is to bring up children and take care of the household.
Desdemona- ‘lame and impotent conclusion’
Desdemona stands up for herself and Emilia as she disagree with what Iago has said about his views on women.
Iago- aside ‘ he takes her by the palm… very good well kissed’
Iago to himself can see that his plan is working to set up Cassio, as he is taking hold of Desdemona’s hand and showing affection. Iago can now frame Cassio.
