othello jealousy quotes Flashcards
‘Beware My Lord, Of the green eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on’ Act 3 scene 3
Iago explicitly warns Othello of the power of his own jealousy (his hamartia), dramatic irony here as he is purposefully exploiting this jealousy. ‘Monster’ personifies jealousy whilst dehumanising its victims ‘meat’- analogy of Iago and his victims, he takes o consideration of their humanity and is ruthless in his machinations.
‘A jealousy so strong that judgement cannot cure’ Act 2 scene 1
Iago tells the audience and Roderigo his plans to exploit Othello’s jealousy as a method to bring his downfall, he makes the audience and Roderigo complacent here, we know exactly what is happening when he begins to plant seeds of doubt in Othello’s mind.
‘Has done my office’ Act 1 Scene 3
Iago provides a motive for his jealousy and hatred for the moor, this infidelity is never proven/ disproven but serves just to provide somewhat of a motive for Iago’s otherwise motiveless malignity. ‘my office’ Iago neglects to name Emilia here as well as using the possessive pronoun ‘my’ continuing themes of prejudice against women.
‘Trifles light as air are to the jealous confirmations strong as proofs of holy writ’ Act 3 scene 3
Iago realizes the fragility of Othello- it is not even necessary for him to provide real proof as mere doubt is enough to fuel Othello’s hamartia of jealousy. ‘light as air’ emphasizes the flimsy nature of the circumstantial proof that is Cassio’s ownership of the handkerchief. Due to Othello’s fatal flaw he takes this ‘proof’ as significantly as ‘holy writ’, a law/ fact.
‘The moor already changes with my poison’ Act 3 scene 3
Iago sees his manipulation working, Othello’s manner has already begun to change, transforming from the noble, self assures general to an insecure, angry beast of a man. The metaphor of his ‘poison’ implies jealousy as a disease that is fated to spread and worsen until eventually leading to total infection- death.
‘Jealous for they are jealous’ Act 3 scene 4
The worldly wise Emilia explains the irrational nature of jealousy to the naïve Desdemona. This wisdom creates a large gap between these two women, Emilia is aware of the unprovoked cruelty of men learnt from her marriage to Iago, whilst Desdemona is blindly optimistic and loving to her husband. Despite their differences in class and wisdom, both women will die by the end of the play ultimately commenting that all women are doomed to fail in a patriarchal, oppressive climate .
‘It is a monster begot upon itself, born on itself’ Act 3 scene 4
Emilia maintains the association of jealousy with the monstrous; it is not just a hamartia specific to Othello but is a self-invented plague causing pain and destruction. Jealousy needs no rational motive and can quickly spiral into a tragically destructive force, a ‘monster’
‘My noble moor is true of mind and made of no such baseness as jealous creatures’ Act 3 scene 4
Desdemona claims that Othello is not a jealous man in his nature, she is lucky as if he was a jealous man the loss of the handkerchief would enrage him. HUGE dramatic irony here, Othello is jealous and is enraged by the loss of the handkerchief, this circumstantial evidence is enough to prove Desdemona as a disloyal wife and results in Othello planning to kill her.
‘One not easily jealous/ perplexed in the extreme’ Act 5 scene 2
In his final speech, Othello declares that he was never jealous, only confused and misconstrued by Iago’s manipulations. This diminishes his role as a tragic hero in death as he fails to take accountability for his actions and the suffering he has caused, showing a lack of nobility and overall heroism. This is ironic as not only was Othello jealous, but was so ‘easily’ jealous, his vengeful rage propelled by circumstantial proof, being enough evidence for him to commit the crime of murder.
‘It is my natures plague to spy into abuses and oft my jealousy shaped faults that are not’ Act 3 scene 3
Iago warns Othello of his jealous nature and that this hamartia creates untrue situations, Othello completely ignores this warning showing his credulity and blind trust in Iago. This is hugely ironic as if Othello had listened to this warning the tragedy of the play would have been prevented all together.
‘To abuse Othello’s ear/ be led by th’ nose’ Act 1 scene 3
Iago plans to bring about Othello’s downfall by making him jealous, he is aware that Othello is easily influenced and a credulous man- he will essentially cause his own downfall with right motive, all Iago has to do is implant the doubt.
