Othello: Key Quotes Flashcards
Memorise Othello quotes, including A) who said them, B) when, and C) which theme it links to.
“A man he is of honesty and trust.”
Who said it? About whom? Which act? Which theme does it connect to?
Othello; about Iago; 1.3; appearance and reality
To Othello, Iago appears honest and trustworthy, but is actually NOT
“In following him, I follow but myself.”
Iago; about Othello; 1.1; appearance vs reality (Parvathy)
“I kissed thee ere I killed thee. No way but this,
Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.”
Othello; when killing himself; 5.2; guilt and retribution - Lodey
“This fellow’s exceeding honesty.”
Othello; about his trust in Iago; 3.3;
appearance and reality (Anika)
“Nobody; I myself.”
Desdemona; about her death; 5.2; appearance vs reality (Parvathy)
“I’ll tear her all to pieces.”
Othello; after hearing Iago’s story of Cassio and Desdemona; 3.3; Othello’s descent - Lodey
“I’ll pour this pestilence into his ear […] I’ll turn her virtue into pitch,”
Iago; his plan to ruin O & D; 2.3; jealousy and love - Lodey
“Arise, black vengeance, from the hollow hell!”
Othello; his anger at Desdemona’s alleged betrayal; 3.3; othello’s hamartia - Lodey
“I am not what I am.”
Who said it? About whom? Which act? Which theme does it connect to?
lilys
Iago;Speaking to Roderigo, revealing his duplicitous nature;1.1;Appearance vs. Reality
“My noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty.”
Who said it? About whom? Which act? Which theme does it connect to?
lils
Desdemona;Addressing Brabantio, expressing her loyalty to both her father and Othello;1.3;Duty and Family Loyalty
“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on.”
Who said it? About whom? Which act? Which theme does it connect to?
lilys
Iago;Warning Othello about the dangers of jealousy;3.3;Jealousy and Manipulation
“They eat us hungerly, and when they are full //
They belch us.”
Emilia; regarding the nature of men; 3.4; feminism and status - Lodey
“Heaven keep ⟨that⟩ monster from Othello’s mind!”
Desdemona; about othello’s jealousy; 3.4; love and jealousy - Lodey
“Rude am I in my speech and little blessed with the soft phrase of peace.”
Othello; about himself; 1.3; appearance vs reality (Parvathy)
“Keep up your bright swords for the dew will rust them”
(1.3) Othello’s poetic and non violent nature which completely changes as the play progresses (Dhriti)
“The Moor’s abused by some most villous knave, some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow”
Emilia in 4.2 (in front of Iago) dramatic irony + shows her cleverness as she was probably the closest in figuring Iago’s scheme (Dhriti)
“His unkindness may defeat my life but never taint my love”
Desdemona in 4.3 after Othello slaps her in front of lodovico thus highlighting the powerlessness of women in the 1500s (Dhriti)
“O, the more angel she, and you the blacker devil”
Emilia in 5.2 after finding Desdemona dead, her language usage highlights Othello’s downfall and loss of his status completely (Dhriti)
“With as little web as this will I ensnare as great as a fly as Cassio”
Iago in 2.1 highlighting the theme of manipulation (Dhriti)
“O thou Othello, thou wert once so good, Fall’n in the practise of the damned slave
Lodovico; 5.5; empahsising othello’s descent into jealousy (Anika)
“Alas, what sin have I committed?”
Desdemona; 5.1; begging for her life and highlighting her innocence (Anika)
