Othello Act 1 Quotation Analysis (MUST KNOW)

Question 1

Iago: ‘I know my price, I am worth no worse a place’ (Scene 1)

Answer 1

Introduces our villain, arrogant and a bitter tone

Question 2

Iago: ‘Horribly stuffed with epithets of war’ (Scene 1)

Answer 2

Othello completely contrasts this description - he is noble, honourable etc.

Question 3

Iago: ‘I follow him to serve my turn upon him’ (Scene 1)

Answer 3

Dual nature, already has plans of betrayal and revenge

Question 4

Iago: ‘We cannot all be masters, nor all masters cannot truly be followed’ (Scene 1)

Answer 4

Inclusive - is he accepting he has no power or diminishing Othello’s?

Question 5

Iago: ‘Heaven is my judge’ (Scene 1)

Answer 5

Religious themes

Question 6

Iago: ‘But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at: I am not what I am’ (Scene 1)

Answer 6

Religious theme, Biblical reference (God = ‘I am what I am’), elevates him as powerful, string puppeteer

Question 7

Iago: ‘The thick lips’ (Scene 1)

Answer 7

Othello physically presented as an outsider, inevitability of tragic end?

Question 8

Roderigo: ‘Here is her father’s house, I’ll call aloud’ (Scene 1)

Answer 8

Bond over the desire to expose O & D, immature, follows Iago’s lead, establishing his power

Question 9

Iago: ‘Look to your house, your daughter and your bags! Thieves, thieves!’ (Scene 1)

Answer 9

Treatment of women, possession

Question 10

Iago: ‘An old black ram is tupping your white ewe’ (Scene 1)

Answer 10

Great chain of being, dirty animal corrupting pure Desdemona, dehumanises them, crude

Question 11

Brabantio: ‘Thou art a villain’ (Scene 1)

Answer 11

First time audience see this, can look back over scene in a new perspective

Question 12

Roderigo: ‘Trying her duty, beauty, wit, and fortunes’ (Scene 1)

Answer 12

Rebelling against societal norms or just giving herself to another mans whim? Rhyme is persuasive, sophisticated

Question 13

Iago: ‘I lack iniquity sometimes to do me service’ (Scene 2)

Answer 13

Ironically humbling himself, describes himself as a man of principle

Question 14

Othello: ‘I love the gentle Desdemona’ (Scene 2)

Answer 14

Calm & confident, eloquent language contrasts animal comparisons that suggest savagery

Question 15

Iago: ‘By Janus, I think no’ (Scene 2)

Answer 15

Two faced God, alludes to his duplicity

Question 16

Othello: ‘Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it without a prompter’ (Scene 2)

Answer 16

Doesn’t want to fight but will if necessary, he is not rules by instinct

Question 17

Duke: ‘Valiant Othello’ (Scene 3)

Answer 17

High status and respect

Question 18

Brabantio: ‘Sans witchcraft could not’ (Scene 3)

Answer 18

Witchcraft was highly feared, certain it’s due to the supernatural

Question 19

Othello: ‘My most potent, grave and reverend signors’ (Scene 3)

Answer 19

Flattery, intelligence, getting them to be on his side

Question 20

Brabantio: ‘A maiden never bold’ (Scene 3)

Answer 20

Stereotypes of women, meek and mild

Question 21

Brabantio: ‘Against all rules of nature’ (Scene 3)

Answer 21

It is unnatural for them to be together, women make poor choices, race or age or both?

Question 22

Othello: ‘She loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her, that she did pity them’ (Scene 3)

Answer 22

Is this all their love is based on? Is this shallow or romantic?

Question 23

Desdemona: ‘I do perceive here a divided duty’ (Scene 3)

Answer 23

Treatment of women, limitations imposed by men

Question 24

Duke: ‘Your son is far more fair than black’ (Scene 3)

Answer 24

Limited respect because of race, fair = pure, black = evil, Othello fulfils this by the end of the play

Question 25

Othello: ‘My life upon her faith’ (Scene 3)

Answer 25

Irony, lets Iago override his trust

Question 26

Roderigo: ‘It is silliness to live, when to live is torment’ (Scene 3)

Answer 26

Dramatic, element of comedy

Question 27

Iago: ‘It is merely a lust of blood and a permission of the will. Come, be a man.’ (Scene 3)

Answer 27

Lack of humanity & empathy, mocks him, threat of masculinity

Question 28

Iago: ‘Put money in thy purse’ (Scene 3)

Answer 28

Imperative verb, repetition, commanding

Question 29

Iago: ‘I hate the Moor’ (Scene 3)

Answer 29

Dramatic irony

Question 30

Iago: ‘If thou canst cuckold him, thou dost thyself a pleasure, me a sport’ (Scene 3)

Answer 30

Presents his true interests, clear intentions, this is a game!

Question 31

Iago: ‘Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light’ (Scene 3)

Answer 31

Monster motif, biblical ideas such as hell