Othello quotes and analysis Flashcards
“striking her/ Devil”
Ironically, he’s not portrayed as a violent man who reflects rather than resulting to violence which is contradicting as Othello is abruptly violent towards Desdemona “striking her/Devil!” This suggests that Othello’s unexpected violent nature is expressed when he believes that Desdemona has supposedly cheated when he believes what he hears from the manipulating Iago.
“One Michael Cassio… That never set a squadron in the field, Nor the division of a battle knows”
Shakespeare specifically includes the idea of Cassio not seen as violent on the battlefield nor in general. this quote creates pathos for Cassio because being a caring person is his ultimate weakness for Iago to manipulate. However, the audience would have thought that Othello is a caring, respectful person with an additional personality on the battlefield to fulfil his duty, but it can be argued that his violent side is expressed on his loved one instead of the battlefield. It is also obvious that Cassio has been chosen for the role because of his maturity even though he has no experience on the battlefield.
Micheal (Name) and biblical reference
The context of Michael (name) is of biblical reference as it translates to “who is like god” Ironically, Cassio thinks highly of god, he also believes in being honest and noble in order to hold his place in the afterlife. In terms of being noble, Cassio has a warm heart as he prays for Othello’s safety and wants only happiness for Othello and Desdemona which contrasts with his pure heart
Cassio’s reputation
he worries about the loss of his “reputation,” which is tied up in his military service and his public behavior. Cassio feels that, without his “reputation” as an upstanding soldier, he’s nothing more than a “beast.” Here, he contrasts himself with Othello “making the beast with two backs” like someone as monsterous as a beast
” i hate the moor” “twixt my sheets”
Here Shakespeare isolates Iago’s jealousy of Othello of the idea that he has been hooking up with Emilia. One could argue that this is his driving force for punishing him and ultimately his jealousy thrives off his hate
“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy” “it is the green eye monster which doth mock/ The meat it feeds on
Here, Iago warns Othello to not be a jealous man when in fact this would develop Othello’s anger. Iago also points out that jealousy ends up destroying the heart of the man. This dramatic irony mirrors Iago’s action and it could be argued that he’s supposedly talking to himself to ultimately not destroy himself. The audience know that Iago feeds off Othello’s jealousy making his revenge more destructible
“The moor already changes with my poison”
The continuous discrimination emphasises Iago passion for destruction. Here, Iago realises the unbelievable power of Jealousy where he claims to have poisoned his mind. The power of jealousy also hatred to prosper into the terminal destruction
“An old black ram … Or else the devil will make grandsire of you”
Iago uses a racist term when he wakens Brabantio with the news Desdemona has eloped with Othello. Iago plays on elizabethan notions that black men have animal-like hyper sexuality and this geared at manipulating Brabantio’s fears of miscegination. Calling Othello “the devil” also plays on the idea that black men were evil and that the devil often took the shape and form of a black man
“Why do you speak so faintly. Are you not well/ I have a pain upon my forehead”
After Iago plants the seeds of jealousy in Othello’s mind, Othello complains of having a headache which is a big clue he thinks that Desdemona is unfaithful. in the sixteenth century literature, any time a man has a headache or there’s some kind of reference to a man having horns growing out of his head meaning theres a reference to cuckoldry where he’s being cheated on by his wife
This could be reference to Iago putting poison in head and could be the reason for his headache
“I do love Cassio well would do much/ To cure him of this evil”
He speaks of loving Cassio as he loves Othello meaning he hates Cassio since he also hates Othello
“No my hear is turned to stone”
Iago transforms the passion of Othellos love into hatred
Jealousy Theme
Jealousy impacts Othello’s relationships with Cassio as he’s manipulated by Iago to believe Cassio is having an affair with his wife
Race Theme
The contrast of black and white in Othello. White is seen as the superior colour however, Othello’s superiority is determined by his of Desdemona
- Interracial marriages were frowned upon
Gender Theme
Gender relations are antagonistic in Othello. Unmarried women are considered as their fathers property and the play’s two marriages are marked by male jealousy. Venetian women are inheritly promiscous which explains why female sexuality is a huge threat to men so Othello is easily convinced his wife is cheating on him and feels humiliated as a result
Sex Theme
Othello explores concepts of miscegenation by examining the relationship between a black ma who marries, accuses her of being unfaithful and then strangles her on her wedding sheets
In Othello, most male characters assume that male are inheritly promiscuous which explains why all three women are accused of sexual infidelity.
