Othello quotes

Question 1

Act 1 Scene 1

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

Answer 1

Iago

Immediate hate towards Othello within the first page, sense of jealousy

high sense of pride present

Question 2

Act 1 Scene 1

his Moorship’s ancient

Answer 2

Iago

racial prejudice towards Othello due to Cassio gaining the promotion

absues Othello’s trust

Question 3

Act 1 Scene 1

I follow him to serve my turn upon him

Answer 3

Iago

malicious intent, seeks revenge for promoting Cassio over him

Question 4

Act 1 Scene 1

I am not what I am

Answer 4

Iago

presents his facade, sets up his betrayal for Othello

Question 5

Act 1 Scene 1

thick-lips

Answer 5

Roderigo

racist stereotype towards Othello, highlights the racial abuse

21st Century audience would view this as a racist play yet a Jacobean aqudience would see this as normal

Question 6

Act 1 Scene 1

Thieves, thieves!

Answer 6

Iago

presents imagery of theft

femenist interpretation would view this as seeing Desdemona being owned by her father, like she is property

Question 7

Act 1 Scene 1

an old black ram is tupping your white ewe

Answer 7

Iago

animalistic imagery, suggests Othello is an animal

racist and sexual imagery

Question 8

Act 1 Scene 1

the devil will make a grandsire of you

Answer 8

Iago

religious imagery

racist imagery towards Othello again = im some traditions the devil is depicted as black

Question 9

Act 1 Scene 1

my daughter is not for thee

Answer 9

Brabantio

denies Roderigo Desdemona’s love, gives a sense that she is an object

femenist lens would see this as objectifying towards women

Question 10

Act 1 Scene 1

Barbary horse

Answer 10

Iago

vulgar, racist imagery towards Othello

a Barbary horse is an African stallion, the African coast was most famous for horse breeding

Question 11

Act 1 Scene 1

making the beast with two backs

Answer 11

Iago

animalistic and sexual imagery

Question 12

Act 1 Scene 1

your daughter… hath made a gross revolt

Answer 12

Roderigo

stating how Desdemona has betrayed Brabantio by marrying Othello

shows traditional Jacobean societal norms where a father desides who his daughter marries then passes over the ‘ownership’ onto the husband once they are wed

Question 13

Act 1 Scene 1

I do hate him as I do hell’s pains

Answer 13

Iago

sense of duplicity

needs to be publically seen with Othello to make it seem like his loyalties lie with him

Question 14

Act 1 Scene 1

she decieves me

Answer 14

Brabantio

gives a sense that he is disgusted by Desdemona’s behaviour

feels a sense of betrayal from his daughter

Question 15

Act 1 Scene 1

treason of the blood

Answer 15

Brabantio

dramatic, acts like Desdemona has done a terrible thing

seen as overdramatic from a 21st Century perspective but normalised from a Jacobean audience pov

Question 16

Act 1 Scene 1

property of youth and maidhood

Answer 16

Brabantio

signifies how he believes he owns Des and should make all her decisions

Question 17

Act 1 Scene 2

spoke such scurvy and provoking terms against your honour

Answer 17

Iago

appearanve vs reality, duplicity of Iago’s character

appears outraged that Othello was being spoken about yet was the one speaking about him

Question 18

Act 1 Scene 2

gentle Desdemona

Answer 18

Othello

Question 19

Act 1 Scene 2

by Janus

Answer 19

Iago

Janus was a Roman God with 2 faces, signifies Iago’s duplicity

Shakespeare using Renaissance ideas within his work

Question 20

Act 1 Scene 2

thou hast enchanted her… in chains of magic

Answer 20

Brabantio

gives a sense she is trapped in her marriage due to being enchanted

Desdemona went against societal norms and Brabantio believes that because she did this she was under a spell

Question 21

Act 1 Scene 2

abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals

Answer 21

Brabantio

speaking about Desdemona and how Othello ‘stole her’ from him

Question 22

Act 1 Scene 3

valiant Othello

Answer 22

Duke

greeting Othello before Brabantio emphasises his importance in society

Question 23

Act 1 Scene 3

Dead? Ay, to me

Answer 23

Senators, Brabantio

dramatic description, his daugter is dead bc she against societal norms

Jacobean audience would agree with Brabantio and the Dukes as women were seen as their fathers property, very corrupt ideals highlights the lack of freedom women possessed

Question 24

Act 1 Scene 3

the bloody book of law

Answer 24

Duke

dramatic irony, unaware that Desdemona ran away with ‘valiant Othello’

wants to punish whoever ran away and married Des yet changes his mind when he discovers it is Othello and hears his speech, corruption

Question 25

Act 1 Scene 3

most potent, grave, and reverend signors

Answer 25

Othello

flattery, greets the Dukes with the upmost respect, shows his loyalty

Question 26

Act 1 Scene 3

rude I am in my speech

Answer 26

Othello

sprezzatura, pretending to be bad at something you’re good at

pretends to be bad at public speaking even though he is not, due to either being insecure to being an outsider or being manipulative from the start

Question 27

Act 1 Scene 3

i won his daughter

Answer 27

Othello

portrays Des as an object, a prize to be won

shows Jacobean societal norms, a femenist interpretation would view this as disempowering to women