Othello 1.1 Flashcards
“I take it much
unkindly / That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse / As if the strings were thine shouldn’t know of this.” -Roderigo
- begginig of Roderigo doubts of Iago’s loyalty
- opens with Iago’s loyalty being questioned, immediately making us rightfully wary of Iago
“Thou told’st
me thou didst hold him in thy hast.”-Roderigo
“Despise me if I do not”-Iago
-Iago tricks Roderigo into trusting him, leading to Roderigo’s willingness to contribute in Iago’s future plans
-showing Iago’s ability to manipulate and deceive people
“I know
my price, I am worth no worse a place” -Iago
- not only does Iago desire this position but he believes he is the best person for the job
- Either Iago has been wronged by Othello, although given Othello’s experience it is unlikely that he has made the mistake of giving the job to someone who cannot do it, or Iago holds himself and his own abilities on a pedestal
“That never
set a squadron in the field”-Iago
“Forsooth, a great arithmetician”-Iago
-Iago looks down on Cassio
-perhaps why he has so little regard for Cassio’s life later in the play, as he believes him worthless and expendable to get what he wants
“Nor the
devision of a battle knows more than a spinster”
-saying that Cassio is less of a man. Just has a spinster has no experience of being with a man, so too has Cassio had no experience of a proper battle.
“Mere prattle
without practice is all his soldiership”-Iago
-Iago thinks of his abilities as greater than Cassio’s
“Not by
the old gradation where each heir stood second to the first”-Iago
- Iago believes in the old system and perhaps a lot of his jealousy comes from believing that he has worked hard for his position and that his effort has gone to waste.
- feels underappreciatied
- his need fro vengeance maybe comes from a place of hurt and insecurity
“Now sir,
be judge yourself wether I am in any just term affin’d to love the moor.”-Iago
-Confirming his hatred of Othello to Roderigo
“I follow
him to serve my turn upon him”
- appearance versus reality
- showing intentions
- Roderigo knows the the truth and it should deter him but it does the opposite
“The native
act and figure of my heart in complement 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”-Iago
- appearance versus reality
- Iago showing that he cannot be trusted
- Roderigo is one of the only people to know this
“The thick-
lips”-Roderigo
-Pointing out Othello’s Differences from Venetian society, increasing his insecurity
“Thieves”
- sexism
- suggesting that Desdemona is Brabantio’s possession to be stollen
“an old
back ram is tupping your white ewe”-Iago
“Barbary horse”-Iago
“Your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs”-Iago
“Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you.”-Iago
-giving the impression that Othello is animalistic and uncivilised.
-Later the exact opposite is proven
-insulting Othello’s civility due to his race
“To the
gross clasps of the lascivious Moor”-Roderigo
-Roderigo’s rate for Othello comes from a place of jealousy as Othello has Desdemona
“I must
show out a flag and sign of love, which is indeed but a sign.”-Iago
-keeping Roderigo on his side so that he can still use him and his money
