Othello Key Quotes: Othello Flashcards
“Othello’s occupation gone,”
- 3rd person speech.
- Unstable, not himself.
“A man he is of honesty and trust.”
- Dramatic irony
- Highlights Othello’s blindness to the true, deceitful nature of Iago.
- Tragic Flaw: Naivety
(About Othello)
“Your son-in-law is far more fair than black.”
- Racist remark, Othello’s experience outweighs his skin colour but does not entirely negate his otherness.
- White vs black imagery.
“Excellent wretch,”
- Oxymoron
- First time Othello’s trust in Desdemona wavers.
- Frustration
- Emerging jealously?
“O my fair warrior.”
- ## Othello’s declaration of love to Desdemona upon arriving in Cyprus.
“My life upon her faith!”
- A02: Dramatic irony. Cataphoric reference.
- Othello later spirals into madness when Desdemona’s loyalty is blackened by Iago’s lies. Due to Iago’s corruption, Othello is lead to murder Desdemona and the finds out she was innocent. As a result, Othello kills himself.
“She’s gone. I am abused and my relief must be to loathe her.”
- Othello is distraught by Desdemona’s “disloyalty” and begins to loathe her.
- Contrast to his unwavering love for her at the beginning of the play.
“I’ll tear her all to pieces!”
- Violent imagery
- Jacobean attitude: Black people were barbarian. Othello is beginning to conform to these racist stereotypes.
- Reflects Othello’s militan/soldier instincts and capabilities.
‘Haply for I am black,’
- Sign of insecurity. Othello believes he is inferior. Desdemona would have better white suitors than him therefore Iago’s accusation against Desdemona is not unplausible.
“If she be false, O then heaven mocks itself.”
- Othello doesn’t want to believe that Desdemona could be false.
“Not I; I must be found.
My parts, my title, and my perfect soul,
Shall manifest me rightly.”
- A02: Repetition of ‘my’: Reveals a hubristic side of Othello. Othello is convinced that his position as General will absolve him of any punishment.
- Alternatively: Portrays Othello as calm, collected which contradicts the negative representation set up by Iago earlier in the play. –> Position as a Tragic Hero. Othello must begin in a position of greatness before he suffers his tragic fall.
- Prose: Othello is well-spoken.
- A03: Stereotypes of Black people in the Elizabethan/Jacobean period.
- A04: Tragic Hero, Tragic Fall,
(About Othello)
“As loving as his own pride and purposes.”
(Act 1 Scene 1)
- Said by Iago.
- Creates an unfavourable impression of Othello as a egotisical and arrogant leader.
(About Othello)
“An Old Black Ram,”
(Act 1, Scene 1)
- Racist language.
- Dehumanises Othello.
- The Chain of Being positioned animals below humans therefore, Othello is inhumane —> Extremely derogative in the period.
- Black and White imagery: contextually, black and white can be equated with light and darkness, heaven and hell, good and bad. Shakespeare intensifies this contrast by the use of an antithesis such as ‘black ram’ against ‘white ewe.’ –> Conflict, emphasises Othello’s otherness.
(About Othello)
“Devil,”
(Act 1, Scene 1)
- In Jacobean society, Black people were percieved as satantic and other.
- Iago villianises Othello to antagonise Brabantio, announcing the ‘devil will make a grandsire of you.’ as he (Othello) and Desdemona have secretly wed.
(About Othello)
“Lavascious Moor,”
Act 1, Scene 1
- Racist stereotype that Black men are sexual deviants, unable to control their desires and compulsions.
- ‘Moor’ defined by difference, constantly reminded of his otherness.
“Let him do his spite.”
(Act 1, Scene 2)
- Othello has confidence that his status and reputation will override any accusation Brabantio plans to make against him.
About Othello
“Valiant Moor,”
- Othello is brave and well-respected as General.
- It is this respect and status that allows Othello to overcome colour prejudice at the beginning of the play.
“Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, My very noble and approved good masters,”
- A02: Demonstrative of Othello’s respectfulness and humbleness in the face of his superiors. Contradicts Iago’s, Roderigo and Brabantio’s depictions of him. (e.g. Old Black ram)
- A03: Miltians, Attitudes to Black people
- A04: Tragic Hero, Tragic Fall,