Othello - quotes: Act 1 Flashcards
“hast had my purse as if the strings were thine” - Roderigo
Alludes to the fact that Iago has been taking money from Roderigo, we do not yet know that this was supposed to be used to ‘woo’ Desdemona but of course it never serves this purpose, Iago essentially robs him in broad daylight.
“I know my price, I am worth no worse a place” - Iago
We see Iago’s arrogance and jealousy here at the fact that Othello chose cassio for the Lieutenant role over him. We see how highly he thinks of himself.
- marxist critism: a society which puts prices on peoples worth
AO3: heirarchy in social status important in Venice as indicator of your worth
“A fellow almost damned by a fair wife” - Iago
Perhaps the first looks at Iago’s sexist language, he says that Cassio is do weak that he could be beaten or damned by a woman.
“I follow him to serve my turn upon him - Iago
Iago alludes to his duplicity, essentially hinting that he is only loyal to Othello so that he can seek his revenge.
he is cunning + machovelian
“Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul” - Iago
Very deliberate use of language here, makes Brabantio question why he hasn’t noticed that Des is gone, makes it sound as if his life is over because his daughter has married Othello.
“I am not what I am” - Iago
Shows Iago’s duplicity and deception, he suggests that he is not as he seems. Also from a religious POV, God says to Moses ‘I am that I am’ so in saying this, Iago is almost going against the Christian conventions expected of him. also highlights deception.
“An old black ram is tupping your white ewe” - Iago
Iago makes a racist comment about Othello. Black has connotations of evil and white of innocence, as if Othello is harming Desdemona, inflicting evil upon her. Base sexual and animalistic imagery. + also emphasises Othello’s age - highlights d’s youth and innocence as if O has taken advantage of her
“Thou art a villain” - Brabantio
Brabantio is the first character who sees Iago for what he really is, he says this as he doesn’t believe what Iago is saying at this point.
“This is Venice” - Brabantio
Says it as if bad things can’t happen there, hints to the social elites warped view. Also alludes to how badly things change in Cyprus. Ironic because dark corrupt underbelly of Venice.
“Though I do hate him as I hate hell pains” - Iago
Possibly one of the only points in the whole play where Iago tells the truth.
“Is there not charms by which the property of youth and maidenhood may be abused?” - Brabantio
Brabantio doesn’t believe that Desdemona could have married Othello of her own accord, he thinks dark magic has had something to do with it.
heaven is my judge - Iago
an excuse to get away with his crimes
thieves, thieves, thieves
patriarchal objectification of Desdemona
making the beast with two backs
sex described with animal imagery
gross clasps of the lascivious Moor
racist, sexually driven. Shakespeare reflects the Renaissance stereotypes of black men as sexual predators.
given her leave…gross revolt, tying her duty, beauty, wit and fortunes
- gross betrayal/ rebellion, men controlling women - feminist
“My parts, my title and my perfect soul
Shall manifest me rightly.”
Who: Othello
Significance: It can be taken as very self absorbed. He believes his title and actions will protect him as he believes he has done nothing wrong. It has both pride and a man defending his own honor. This idea that he calls himself perfect is vey self absorbed.
Link to the fact the name Othello means ‘he has the sound of God’ - he is perfect
“Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.”
Who: Othello
Significance: We see here that Othello is an authoritative yet calm figure despite the threat of violence. His expert suppression of the street fight demonstrates that he is a highly skilled general. He is not one to completely resort to violence, thus going against the stereotypes of a dangerous menace set out in Elizabethan times
“I love the gentle Desdemona”
Who: Othello
Significance: presents the purity of their relationship, and their love before it becomes affected by external poisons like war and Iago’s manipulation. He uses soft and gentle adjectives to describe Desdemona giving her an angelic description, thus reaffirming Desdemona as the ultimate chaste victim (a sacrifice). (women expected to be gentle in Jacobean period)
“By Janus, I think no.”
Who: Iago
Significance: Janus is a two-faced Roman God, thus proving Iago to be the ultimate manipulator, able to present the facade of a trusting character in order to fulfill his ulterior motives. By swearing by this God it proves to show how he epitomises a ‘two-faced’ person, and relishes in it, giving him the title of a Satan like character.
“So opposite to marriage that she shunned
The wealthy curled darlings of our nation”
Who: Brabantio
Significance: due to his prejudice views he cannot understand why Desdemona completely dismissed the socially and politically correct suitors that have been put forth to her. This proves Desdemona’s abilities to fight against the social norms for the sack of love. Through Brabantio saying this it reflects his priorities and hierarchy he sees within society.
I fetch my life and being From men of royal siege
worked his way up; proud of his history; unlike description from Iago; he feels the ruling families of Venice - the signatory will value his military effort
let him do his spite
Othello is calm and measured; that nothing will ruin marriage
three several quests to search you out
othello urgently needed in venice; creates tension; will cause divide in relationship
“enchanted her … in chains of magic” “foul charms” “abused her”
- brab alludes to magic implying Othello has acted against Christianity
- venitian society believed in witchcraft
“the valient Moor”
the first senator’s description of the Moor, gives him height to fall from
context of war “the Turkish fleet, are bearing up to Cyprus” “but the main article I do approve in a fearful sense”
- The wars of Cyprus fought between 1570 and 1573
- It’s likely the action of the play takes place during Ottoman-Venetian was Muslim vs christian conflict
- Othello ottoman/ muslim background; has denounced this and now christian - post colonial outlook - has had to abandon his identity to fit in with Venetian society
- theme of rumours causing panic - mirrors D and O
- O’s life is dominated by the war + so is scene
- trick to create diversion: political and personal echo each other
- venice christian - ottoman - muslim
“the valiant Moor”
the first senator’s description of the Moor, gives him height to fall from
- however he is also labelled
- tensions in play both personal and political
“my particular grief … engluts and swallows other sorrows”
brabantio concerned with himself
water, flooding emotions imagery overwhelming grief
comedic
greif like monster - internal rhyme scheme
dramatic
witchcraft context
brab accuses O of witchcraft
witches could be sent to death
mirrors O’s fate
ironically O loses it and references devil
unnatural relationship: breaking natural order
venitian society believed in witchcraft
“loved me for the dangers I had passed/ And I loved her that she did pity them”
Who: Othello
Significance: Desdemona was seduced by Othello’s story-telling powers, while the Moor was enchanted by the Venetian’s sympathetic response to his history.
There is their ardent sincerity, though whether each perhaps fell in love with an image or idea of the other.
Question how realistic Othello is about love. He professes that he has had little experience in matters of the heart. He is eloquent when describing his experiences as a soldier, but needed prompting to woo Desdemona and seems to expect to be able to continue his military duties without any distractions. He is firm and confident about this: love and war can be combined.
speaks poetically much more persuasive
makes positive image of himself - emphasises his bravery (valour) + virtue (honesty)
mutual love
“battles, sieges, fortunes”
respected as a soldier; trying to win over audience
“sold to slavery”
hard life - overcome this; worked his way up; creates sympathy; perhaps suggests insecurity
“against all rules of nature”
Who: Brabantio
Significance: another racial slur against the purity and normality there is in an interracial marriage.
“and with a greedy ear devour up my discourse”
Who: Othello
Significance: talks of how Desdemona came to love Othello, she fell in love with him through listening to his stories and hearing of his distant adventures as a brave soldier.
there is a sexual tone, showing the passion and desire that resonates in their relationship. This passion and desires appears primal and animistic.
Desdemona clearly has sexual desires highlighting the unrealistic expectations of chastity.
“you are Lord of all my duty”
Who: Desdemona
Significance: She shows herself again to be of a submissive nature accepting that she is loyal and dutiful to her father.
Though later admits that her duty to Othello over rides this as she must now fulfill her role as a dutiful wife. - fem crit
however D also makes the choice to choose O over father
“She has deceived her father and may decieve thee”
Who: Brabantio
- rhyming couplets
Significance: He perpetuates an unfair idea on woman. Reflects the sexist society of Elizabethan society, where one act within a woman’s live has grander impacts filtering through their life. The idea is that an unruly daughter will make an unruly and promiscuous wife.
It is an echoing line foreboding the later events of the play, and what Othello goes on to believe.
There is pure tragedy that Iago uses this to further persuade Othello she has had an affair.
forshadowing
“my life upon her faith’
Who: Othello
Significance: he swears all his trust in Desdemona, and he would place this on his life. Reflects the stark change, which Othello goes through, and adds to the tragedy of the plays events. Questionable if his faith was ever so strong as it became so easily tarnished by the end of the play, as he would not listen to Desdemona, though does ask Iago for concrete evidence.
honest iago
not honest
“I will incontinently drown myself”
Who:
Significance: We begin to see the power Iago has over Roderigo and because of this Roderigo begins to appear weak and indecisive. This weakness derives from how desperate Roderigo is to be with Desdemona.
Roderigo’s Achilles’ heel is his love and desire to be with Desdemona
He is unable to act without thinking reflecting his immaturity.
“free and open nature”
‘The Moor is of a…’ Iago acknowledges Othello’s good qualities and so how he will use them against him.
This is the greatest tool that Iago uses of manipulation as to reveal ones fatal flaw is to hold ultimate power over that person. Iago becomes in control - Iago acts as director of the play driving peoples actions by feeding them half truths, and allowing them make up their own assumptions (in doing this he appears blameless, and the ideas he is presenting are more believable.)
“abuse Othello’s ear”
Who: Iago
Significance: Indicative of Iago’s method of taking existing beliefs and ideas and warping them for his own profit, Iago borrows Othello’s original imagery of “feeding” Desdemona’s ear with his stories. Othello won Desdemona by telling her stories, and Iago will “win” Othello by doing the same. This image also further extends Iago’s perverse motif of impregnation through abuse: “It is engender’d. Hell and night/Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light.” His “wooing” of Othello culminates in Act III, the climax, wherein he and Othello make vows of revenge which, critics have noted, are meant to resemble wedding vows.
“money in thy purse”
The litany of “put…” from Iago shows how he’s going to exploit Roderigo for his own benefit “Thus do I ever make my fool my purse”.
One of his motives among many others is to take as much money from Rodregio, and this reflects Iago’s utter greed and need for more.
Iago is never satisfied with the destruction he causes throughout the play always aiming to cause more chaos. Emphasis of him being a Satan like character who revels in the pain and destruction of others. - for now missing out Iago’s bit of the section because mock on O
