Othello Quotations Flashcards by Essie Adelanwa

Were I the Moor I would not be Iago.

Act 1 scene 2

IAGO

Iago’s deceit and equally his honesty are shown

immoral

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Look to her Moor if though hast eyes to see. She has deceived her father, and may thee.

BRABANTIO

Act 1 scene 3

foreshadowing
plants a seed on doubt, perhaps unconsciously in Othello’s mind
Brabantio does not trust his daughter and advises Othello to also

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My life upon her faith!

OTHELLO

Act 1 scene 3 line

I’d bet my life she’d never lie to me! - shows conviction in his love for her

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I follow him to serve my turn upon him

IAGO

Act 1 Scene 1

line 42

Iago’s deceit - sneaky

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” Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other time “

OTHELLO

Act 3 Scene 3

significance: highlighting falling away from love Desdemona is no longer as important as she used to be

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” Zounds you are robbed! For shame…

Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul.

Even now, now, very now, an old black ram

Is tupping your white ewe. “

IAGO

Act 1 Scene 2

Line

Desdemona’s purity is portrayed as a white lamb

black = evil

contrast in colours and their implications

Iago is stirring things up; causing mischief

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” If I do vow a friendship I’ll perform it

To the last article “

DESDEMONA

Act Scene

Line

speaks of her own loyalty

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” By Janus, I think no “

IAGO

Act 1 Scene 2

Line

Iago’s duplicity

Janus: god with two faces

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I kiss’d thee ere I kill’d thee: no way but this; Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.

Act 5 Scene Line OTHELLO - his dying words

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… you’ll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse

Act 1 Scene 1 Line IAGO - racial slur

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” O, beware, my lord, of jealousy!

It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock

The meat it feeds on “

IAGO

Act 3 Scene 3

Line 195 - 197

theme: jealousy

jealousy consumes those who take to it/entertain it

warning for Othello

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Welcome to Cyprus goats and monkeys

Act Scene Line OTHELLO

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Devil [striking her]

Act Scene Line OTHELLO

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” Others there are

Who, trimmed in forms and visages of duty,

Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves

And, throwing but shows of service on their lords,

Do well thrive by them “

IAGO

Act 1 scene 1

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” Why, there’s no remedy. ‘Tis the curse of service.

Preferment goes by letter and affection… “

IAGO

Act 1 scene 1

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If virtue no delighted beauty lack, Your son in law is far more fair than black

Act 1 Scene 3 Line DUKE

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” I know, Iago,

Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter,

Making it light to Cassio “

Act 2 Scene 3

Line

OTHELLO

Iago, I know you are downplaying this for your love for Cassio

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” Cassio, I love thee

But never more be officer of mine “

OTHELLO

Act 2 Scene 3

Line

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” Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial “

CASSIO

Act 2 Scene 3

Line

theme: identity

Cassio’s

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” In following him I follow but myself.

Heaven is my judge not I for love and duty,

But seeming so for my peculiar end “

IAGO

Act 1 Scene 1

Line

highlights his real intentions; self-centred

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” My noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty “

DESDEMONA

Act 1 Scene 3

she ultimately professes her loyalty to her husband - she comes across as tactful, respectful, independent

shows she is truthful and thoughful

she is right that her priorities have changed and just as her mother showed her duty /loyalty to Brabaantio she has to do the same for her own husband

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But jealous souls will not be answered so. They are not ever jealous for the cause, But jealous for they are jealous.

Act 3 Scene 4 Line EMILIA - shows an understanding of jealousy - she points out that jealous husbands like Othello never really need any cause to be jealous – they just are jealous - “monster / begot on itself, born on itself” - In other words, jealousy is generated out of nothing and multiplies or reproduces by feeding on itself

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I have a pain upon my forehead, here.

ACT 3 Scene 3 Line 326 OTHELLO - context AO4: After Iago plants the seeds of jealousy in Othello’s mind, Othello complains of having a headache, which is a big, big clue that Othello thinks Desdemona’s been unfaithful. In sixteenth century literature (Shakespeare’s especially), any time a man has a headache or there’s some kind of reference to a man having horns growing out of his head, we can be pretty certain there’s a reference being made to cuckoldry. A “cuckold” is a man who has been cheated on by his wife, and “cuckolds” are frequently portrayed as having horns. This is why Othello says that married men are “fated” to suffer the “forked plague” (3.3.273) just a few lines earlier.

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” She loved me for the dangers I had passed,

And I loved her, that she did pity them “

OTHELLO

Act 1 Scene 3

Line 193 - 194

tells of the foundation of their love

his stories give him an exotic air significance: romantic tales/stories about travel, adventure, danger, and his enslavement lend him a romantic and exotic quality that appealed to Desdemona (and others who listened)

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Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor

Act 1 Scene 3 Line FIRST SENATOR - highlights Othello's status

No, Iago; I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; And on the proof, there is no more but this: Away at once with love or jealousy

Act 3 Scene 2 Line OTHELLO

Speak of me as I am. Nothing extenuate, Nor set down aught in malice. Then must you speak Of one that loved not wisely, but too well; Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought, Perplexed in the extreme

Act 5 Scene 2 Line 402 - 406 OTHELLO - he doesn't want to be remembered as a man who was easily jealous; perhaps to keep his good name and image untainted

Her father loved me, oft invited me, Still questioned me the story of my life From year to year

Act 1 Scene 3 Line OTHELLO - reveals that Brabantio once loved Othello, so long as Othello was a military hero defending Venice and not in a romantic relationship with his daughter.

I will not stay to offend you

Act 4 Scene 1 Line 277 DESDEMONA -

...It is a monster Begot upon itself, born on itself.

Act 3 Scene 4 Line EMILIA translation: jealousy is generated out of nothing and multiplies or reproduces by feeding on itself

Awake! What ho, Brabantio! Thieves, thieves! Look to your house, your daughter, and your bags!Thieves, thieves!

Act 1 Scene 1 Line 86 - 88 IAGO - points to idea that Desdemona is considered her father's property - suggests that Othello has stolen her

" She is abused, stolen from me, and corrupted By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks "

BRABANTIO **Act 1 Scene 3**

She wished she had not heard it, yet she wished That heaven had made her such a man

Act Scene Line OTHELLO

But he, sir, had the election; And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof At Rhodes, at Cyprus and on other grounds Christian and heathen, must be beleed and calmed By debitor and creditor

Act 1 Scene 1 Line IAGO

I hate the Moor And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets 'Has done my office. I know not if't be true, But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, Will do as if for surety

Act 1 Scene 3 Line IAGO - his reasoning for

the Moor; black Moor; his Moorship's ancient

meaning of Moor:

The Moor is of a free and open nature, That thinks men honest that but seem to be so

Act 1 Scene 3 IAGO

Trifles light as air Are to the jealous confirmations strong As proofs of holy writ

Act 3 Scene 3 Line IAGO

Ha! I like not that

Act 3 Scene 3 Line 33 IAGO

Not to affect many proposèd matches Of her own clime, complexion, and degree, Whereto we see in all things nature tends— Foh! One may smell in such a will most rank, Foul disproportion thoughts unnatural— But pardon me—I do not in position Distinctly speak of her, though I may fear Her will, recoiling to her better judgment, May fall to match you with her country forms And happily repent

3.3.268-278 IAGO

Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio

Act 3 Scene 3 Line IAGO

It is a creature That dotes on Cassio—as 'tis the strumpet's plague To beguile many and be beguiled by one.

Act 4 Scene 1 Line IAGO

He, when he hears of her, cannot restrain From the excess of laughter. Here he comes

Act 4 Scene 1 Line IAGO

For the love I bear for Cassio

DESDEMONA

Put money in thy purse

IAGO

I am glad to see thee mad

OTHELLO

I have not deserved this

DESDEMONA

...on her, with her

IAGO

- fellow almost damn'd - never set a squadron

IAGO A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife, That never set a squadron in the field, Nor the division of a battle knows More than a spinster

" I am not what I am. "

IAGO ## Footnote **Act 1 Scene 1**

Whip me such honest knaves

Act 1 Scene 1 Line 49 IAGO

I saw Othello's visage in his mind.

DESDEMONA

One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens.

CASSIO

Ay, past all surgery.

CASSIO

Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul, But I do love thee! and when I love thee not, Chaos is come again.

OTHELLO

I understand a fury in your words, But not the words.

DESDEMONA

O thou weed, Who art so lovely fair and smell'st so sweet That the sense aches at thee, would thou hadst ne'er been born

OTHELLO

It makes us or it mars us

IAGO

Every way makes my gain

IAGO

Yet I'll not shed her blood; Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow, And smooth as monumental alabaster

OTHELLO

She is of so free, so apt, so kind, so blessed a spirit that she olds it a vice in her goodness not to do more than she is requested

IAGO

" I know my price, I am worth no worse a place "

IAGO ## Footnote **Act 1 Scene 1**

" Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit and lost without deserving "

IAGO **Act 2 scene 3**

" Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters' minds By what you see them act "

BRABANTIO Act 1 scene 2

" Call up my brother—Oh, would you had had her! "

BRABANTIO Act 1 scene 2 expressing regret Roderigo is now the preferred husband for his daughter, even though he expressed his dislike for him at the beginning

" Not I: I must be found. My parts, my title, and my perfect soul Shall manifest me rightly. "

OTHELLO **Act 1 Scene 2** Shakespeare presents Othello as: cool, calm and collected; eloquent, virtuous, in control; unruffled; confident possibility of being arrogant or full of pride Othello does not allow himself to be provoked by Iago

" There is no composition in these news That gives them credit "

DUKE **Act 1 Scene 3** adds to the sense of confusion/uncertainty conflict between the truth and lies/deceit

" To fall in love with what she feared to look on? "

BRABANTIO ## Footnote **Act 1 scene 3**

" Her father loved me..."

OTHELLO ## Footnote **Act 1 scene 3**

" Our General's wife is now the General "

IAGO **Act 2 scene 3**

" Was not that Cassio parted from my wife? "

OTHELLO ## Footnote **Act 3 scene 3**

" And what's he then that says I play the villain When this advice is free I give, and honest "

IAGO **Act 2 scene 3** has just told Cassio to go ask for Desdemona's help and Cassio has exited beginning of his soliloquy

" So will I turn her virtue into pitch, And out of her own goodness make the net That shall enmesh them all "

IAGO ## Footnote **Act 2 scene 3**

" This fortification, gentlemen, shall we see't? "

OTHELLO **Act 3 scene 2** Before Cassio meets Desdemona to plead with her Othello

" Madam, not now: I am very ill at ease, Unfit for mine own purposes "

CASSIO **Act 3 scene 3** Othello has just arrived and Cassio feeling nervous leaves Desdemona Iago is able to use this to his advantage with his cryptic reply of "Ha! I like not that."

" I have no judgement in an honest face "

DESDEMONA **Act 3 scene 3**

" Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it That he would sneak away so guilty-like, Seeing you coming "

IAGO ## Footnote **Act 3 scene 3**

" I wonder in my soul What you would ask me tha I should deny. Or stand so mammering on? "

DESDEMONA **Act 3 scene 3**

" I will deny thee nothing "

OTHELLO Act 3 scene 3 repeated twice

" Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul But I do love thee! And when I love thee not, Chaos is come again "

OTHELLO **Act 3 scene 3** foreshadowing

" Discern'st thou aught in that? I he not honest? "

OTHELLO **Act 3 scene 3** growing suspicion/piqued interest

" By heaven, he echoes me, As if there were some monster in his thought Too hideous to be shown "

OTHELLO Act 3 scene 3

" My Lord, you know I love you "

IAGO **Act 3 scene 3**

Othello Quotations Flashcards

To practice memorisation of quotes from Othello covering every act and every character (85 cards)