Othello Flashcards
Desdemona - 3 points for essay
- Initially naïve and innocent but defiant in her marriage to Othello. determined nature
- Becomes submissive and quiet as Othello’s jealously grows. Obeying his unreasonable commands and dismissing his behaviour
- Presented as weak-willed, remaining loyal to Othello despite his actions. Shows her misplaced trust and innocence
Quotes to show Desdemona at the start - naïve and innocent, but defeats stereotypes of marriage showwn through the pure love she has for Othello
- Described as “a common knave”
- “gentle Desdemona” - Othello describing their love as simple
- “what ignorant sin have I committed” suggests she is ready to be sorry for whatever she has done, even know she isn’t aware of her wrongdoings
- “a maid so tender fair and happy” - Brabantio questioning how Desdemona could love Othello
- “She has decieved her father” - showing she went against Brabantio to elope with Othello (expressing their love)
- “that I did love the moor to live with him”
Quotes to show Desdemona in the middle - becoming submissive and quiet. Her determined nature becomes hidden
- “O devil [strikes her] - becoming abusive
- “what have I done to offend you” - she isn’t aware of the reasons behind Othello’s actions
- “some unhatched practices.. hath puddled his clear spirit” she doesn’t blame Othello, believes it is not his fault
Quotes to show Desdemona at the end - weak-willed, remaining loyal to Othello and refuses to hear of his flaws
- “Nobody - I myself, farewell” Her last words, taking the blame of Othello for killing her. Blames it on herself
- “commend me to my kind lord” - Ironic because she and the audience know he is not kind
- ” a guiltless death I die” trying to show she has done nothing wrong
- “Kill me tomorrow, let me live tonight” only in her last few moments does she come to terms with her husbands murderous intentions, she can’t believe that he would actually harm her
Iago - 3 points for essay
- Conveyed through soliloquies, initially presented as selfish, deceitful and manipulative as he reveals his plans
- Unjust treatment of women throughout the play, exposed by Emilia when she complains of his actions
- At the end, Iago is amoral and unrepentant through his lack of remorse for his actions, despite their fatal consequences
Quotes to show Iago at the start - selfish, deceitful and manipulative
- “I partly lead to die at my revenge”
- “put money in thy purse” - he is convincing the naive Roderigo to sell his lands and give the money to Iago.
- “I put the moor at least into a jealousy so strong” - ironic because he is more jealous himself
- “I hate the moor” - shows his unjustified hatred, encouraging the audience to feel antipathy towards him. The first indication of his villainy
- “Thus do I even make my fool my purse” -taking advantage of Roderigo’s good nature
- “Ha! I like not that” -reminding the audience that Iago is not who he seems. Putting ideas of Desdemona and Cassio in Othello’s mind.
Quotes to show Iago’s untrust treatment of women
- “They are all but stomachs, and we are all but food”
- “a good wench, give it to me” - he gives his wife little praise or appreciation after she is trying to please him
- “it is a common thing, to have a foolish wife”
Quotes to show Iago at the end - amoral and unrepentant through his lack of remorse
- “demand me nothing,what you know you know” - believes Othello should have realised the truth and therefore only he can be blamed
- “that she with Cassio hath the act of shame” - Othello still believes Iago, showing he is always deceiving.
- “[Iago offers to stab his wife]” - shows a lack of compassion for his, views himself above others
Othello - 3 points for essay
- despite being a victim of racism, he remains composed and does not let prejudice spew his judgement
- easily manipulated, has misplaced trust, becomes driven by jealousy
- feels responsible and although misguided, believes he is doing good. Self-conscious of his race and reputation
Quotes to show Othello and the start - a victim of racism who remains composed, not letting the prejudice spew him
“an old black ram is tupping your white yew” - suggests that Othello and Desdemona have made a naïve misjudgement by thinking they can go against the hierarchy of race and social class
“bewitched” “enchant” - Brabantio believes Othello has used magic on Desdemona to make her love him as he thinks it is not possible Desdemona has fallen for him under her own will
“the moor” repeated many times demonstrating everyone sees him as an outsider
“put up your right swords, for the due will rust them” - shows he remains composed and confident
Quotes to show that Othello is easily manipulated, has misplaced trust and becomes driven by jealousy
“beware, my lord, of jealousy, for it is the green eyed monster with doth mock the meat it feeds on” - This heightens the irony because the audience is aware of Iago’s plan to put Othello into a “jealously so strong”.
“honest, honest Iago” - Also ironic, demonstrates Othello’s misplaced trust
“Now art thou my lieutenant” - promoting Iago as he believes they have a strong, trustworthy bond
“lie with her.. Lie on her” Fragmented sentences, demonstrate his growing panic believing Cassio is with Desdemona
Quotes to show Othello and the end - Feels responsible and although misguided, believes he is doing good/his duty.
“no way but this -/ killing myself, to die upon a kiss” - he kisses his murdered wife before killing himself afterwards.
“she must die, or else she’ll betray more men” - believes killing Desdemona is his only choice”
“like the base Indian threw a pearl away” - blaming his actions on racial stereotypes.
“she’s a liar, gone to burning hell”
Cassio - 3 points for essay
- initially confident, charismatic when he greets Desdemona
- portrayed as weak-willed, being easily swayed to conform to social expectations and Iago’s manipulation
- concerned over loosing his reputation and seen to display misogynistic trais as he degrades Bianca
Quotes to show Cassio - confident and charismatic when he greets Desdemona
“hail to thee, lady! And the grace of heaven”
“Divine Desdemona” - chivalrous to women
“let it not gall your patience, good Iago, that I extent by manners” - Cassio kisses Iagos wife and explains he is just being polite
Quotes to show Cassio - drunk after beign swayed by Iago’s manipulation
“I have poor and unhappy brains for drinking” - explaining how he needs to moderate his alcohol consumption, however Iago uses this against him
“this is my right hand, this is my left hand” - attempting to prove he isn’t drunk
“do not think, gentlemen, that I am drunk” - due to Iagos manipulation, he is drunk on duty
