Othello Act 1 Quotation Analysis (MUST KNOW) Flashcards
Iago: ‘I know my price, I am worth no worse a place’ (Scene 1)
Introduces our villain, arrogant and a bitter tone
Iago: ‘Horribly stuffed with epithets of war’ (Scene 1)
Othello completely contrasts this description - he is noble, honourable etc.
Iago: ‘I follow him to serve my turn upon him’ (Scene 1)
Dual nature, already has plans of betrayal and revenge
Iago: ‘We cannot all be masters, nor all masters cannot truly be followed’ (Scene 1)
Inclusive - is he accepting he has no power or diminishing Othello’s?
Iago: ‘Heaven is my judge’ (Scene 1)
Religious themes
Iago: ‘But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at: I am not what I am’ (Scene 1)
Religious theme, Biblical reference (God = ‘I am what I am’), elevates him as powerful, string puppeteer
Iago: ‘The thick lips’ (Scene 1)
Othello physically presented as an outsider, inevitability of tragic end?
Roderigo: ‘Here is her father’s house, I’ll call aloud’ (Scene 1)
Bond over the desire to expose O & D, immature, follows Iago’s lead, establishing his power
Iago: ‘Look to your house, your daughter and your bags! Thieves, thieves!’ (Scene 1)
Treatment of women, possession
Iago: ‘An old black ram is tupping your white ewe’ (Scene 1)
Great chain of being, dirty animal corrupting pure Desdemona, dehumanises them, crude
Brabantio: ‘Thou art a villain’ (Scene 1)
First time audience see this, can look back over scene in a new perspective
Roderigo: ‘Trying her duty, beauty, wit, and fortunes’ (Scene 1)
Rebelling against societal norms or just giving herself to another mans whim? Rhyme is persuasive, sophisticated
Iago: ‘I lack iniquity sometimes to do me service’ (Scene 2)
Ironically humbling himself, describes himself as a man of principle
Othello: ‘I love the gentle Desdemona’ (Scene 2)
Calm & confident, eloquent language contrasts animal comparisons that suggest savagery
Iago: ‘By Janus, I think no’ (Scene 2)
Two faced God, alludes to his duplicity
Othello: ‘Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it without a prompter’ (Scene 2)
Doesn’t want to fight but will if necessary, he is not rules by instinct
Duke: ‘Valiant Othello’ (Scene 3)
High status and respect
Brabantio: ‘Sans witchcraft could not’ (Scene 3)
Witchcraft was highly feared, certain it’s due to the supernatural
Othello: ‘My most potent, grave and reverend signors’ (Scene 3)
Flattery, intelligence, getting them to be on his side
Brabantio: ‘A maiden never bold’ (Scene 3)
Stereotypes of women, meek and mild
Brabantio: ‘Against all rules of nature’ (Scene 3)
It is unnatural for them to be together, women make poor choices, race or age or both?
Othello: ‘She loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her, that she did pity them’ (Scene 3)
Is this all their love is based on? Is this shallow or romantic?
Desdemona: ‘I do perceive here a divided duty’ (Scene 3)
Treatment of women, limitations imposed by men
Duke: ‘Your son is far more fair than black’ (Scene 3)
Limited respect because of race, fair = pure, black = evil, Othello fulfils this by the end of the play
Othello: ‘My life upon her faith’ (Scene 3)
Irony, lets Iago override his trust
Roderigo: ‘It is silliness to live, when to live is torment’ (Scene 3)
Dramatic, element of comedy
Iago: ‘It is merely a lust of blood and a permission of the will. Come, be a man.’ (Scene 3)
Lack of humanity & empathy, mocks him, threat of masculinity
Iago: ‘Put money in thy purse’ (Scene 3)
Imperative verb, repetition, commanding
Iago: ‘I hate the Moor’ (Scene 3)
Dramatic irony
Iago: ‘If thou canst cuckold him, thou dost thyself a pleasure, me a sport’ (Scene 3)
Presents his true interests, clear intentions, this is a game!
Iago: ‘Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light’ (Scene 3)
Monster motif, biblical ideas such as hell
