Quotation Flashcards
“You think you have mastered it, but just as you get well underway in following, it turns a back-somersault and there you are. It slaps you in the face, knocks you down, and tramples upon you. It is like a bad dream.”
Where it comes from: Yellow Wallpaper
Speaker: Charlotte Perkins, Woman
Context: She is in the room examining the wallpaper. It is in these moments that she starts to see the woman in the wallpaper and becomes fixated on this dressing on the walls. She wants to spend her time in this room so that she can be with the wallpaper.
Significance: It shows the commencement of her downward spiral. From this moment on, she can’t do anything except fixate on this fabric. She is delusional enough to think that this wallpaper is helping her and solving her issues.
“Mere prattle without practice is all his soldiership.”
Where it comes from: Othello (the play)
Speaker: Iago
Context: He was looked over for a position in the military as lieutenant. He thought that he truly deserved this position, so we are learning about how angry he is and how disrespected he feels.
Significance: He is referring to Cassio and he has absolutely no experience. In other words, he is book-smart and not street-smart. He does not have the experience in the war that Iago has. He thinks that it is a mistake for someone who has never experienced war to lead an army.
… “To tell my story, And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake: She loved me for the dangers I had pass’d, And I loved her that she did pity them.”
Where it comes from: Othello (the play)
Speaker: Othello
Context: This is how Desdemona fell in love with him. He is explaining this to the Duke. This has all come to fruition because Brabantio is enraged that his daughter has eloped with Othello and he is convinced that the only reason for this is black magic.
Significance: This shows how powerful Othello’s rhetoric truly is. He claims to not be able to convince people or use his words wisely. However, he claims that his wife fell in love with him ENTIRELY because of the stories he told and exactly how he told them.
“A slipper and subtle knave, a ⟨finder-out of occasions,⟩ that ⟨has⟩ an eye can stamp and counterfeit advantages, though true advantage never present itself; a devilish knave!”
Where it comes from: Othello (the play)
Speaker: Iago
Context: Talking to Roderigo about how Desdemona is going to tire of Othello. He creates the narrative that when she does get tired, she is going to Cassio. At this moment, he begins discussing the negative traits of Cassio by explaining how he is an opportunistic villain who takes advantage of the situation for his own purposes (he’s a bad guy!).
Significance: Ironic because what he is saying about Cassio is not actually true for Cassio, but it is 100% true for him. He is essentially describing who he is as a person. HOWEVER, nobody EVER thinks of him this way! This also speaks to how MANIPULATIVE and PERSUASIVE Iago is. He is the mastermind of this play and has all scenarios figured out and knows how he wants everything to end while making himself look good the entire time.
“Good name in man and woman, dear my lord is the immediate jewel of their souls…But he that filches from me my good name robs me of that which not enriches him and makes me poor indeed.”
Where it comes from: Othello (the play)
Speaker: Iago
Context: At this moment, Iago and Othello are having a conversation about Desdemona and whether she should be trusted or not. Iago is trying to make it seem like he does not want to upset Othello, but at the same time, he is using his deceptive tactics of making it clear with his speech and overall appearance that he is holding information back. Othello keeps pressing him for what information he has.
Significance: Discussing reputation and how it is EVERYTHING for a person. You could rob someone entirely of every valuable thing that they own and it would not be as bad as having your name soiled/reputation lost. This furthers his anger towards, Desdemona because even if rumors got out that she was unfaithful or people thought this, it would be enough for Othello to lose his credibility because people would wonder how he is unable to keep his woman from straying.
Ironic because this is different from the beginning of the play when he was trying to tell Cassio that reputation was not vital for a person - it was something that people make up about you, but not something that you should focus too much on.
“Give me the ocular proof, or by the worth of mine eternal soul, thou hadst been better have been born a dog than answer my waked wrath.”
Where it comes from: Othello (the play)
Speaker: Othello
Context: Iago has just convinced Othello that Desdemona has cheated on him, but he has a rational moment in the midst of his EMOTIONAL state that he wants some actual evidence to prove that she has been with someone else.
Significance: Iago KOWS that he can’t get him actual proof. So for a split second, Iago’s entire plan is compromised if he doesn’t come up with a loophole for this situation. How does he quickly get himself out of this situation? Handkerchief. Plant it in Cassio’s room so that Othello can see Cassio in possession of the present that he gifted Desdemona. He is a skilled Mastermind/Manipulator! He can think of a solution in a split second to secure his position and avoid problems.
“I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest, lay down my soul at stake.”
Where it comes from: Othello (the play)
Speaker: Emilia
Context: Speaking to Othello. Just having a private conversation with Othello where she is trying to reassure him that as her lady in waiting, she knows what she does in her spare time, she knows who she is as a person, and there is no reason to think that she is unfaithful.
Significance: She is the most loyal character to Desdemona in the play. She is willing to stand up to a man (UNHEARD OF DURING THIS TIME) and try to tell him that he is WRONG because she does not want anything to think badly about Desdemona. She is willing to put her life and safety on the line for someone else.
This speaks to how she did not know everything when it came to Iago’s plan.
“I grant indeed it hath not appeared, and your suspicion is not without wit and judgment. But, Roderigo, if thou hast that in thee indeed, which I have greater reason to believe now than ever – I mean purpose, courage and valor – this night show it. If thou the next night following enjoy not Desdemona, take me from this world with treachery and devise engines for my life.”
Where it comes from: Othello (the play)
Speaker: Iago
Context: Roderigo has confronted Iago and calls him out for not getting anything in return. Why have I given you all my money if you did not secure my relationship with Desdemona and help me? He is a bit suspicious of Iago, but before this, he put his complete faith and truth in this man. Iago needs to think quickly to get out of this situation so that his plans are not ruined and Roiderigo does not blow this out of proportion and go tell Othello.
Significance: Truing point for Roderigo’s character. He is considered the ‘idiot’ of the play who would blindly follow Iago over a cliff and not think twice about it. However, at this moment, we see the confidence that we haven’t seen before. He is willing to issue the ultimatum to Iago that unless things change, he might need to go and speak to Othello. This is bold and SURPRISING given the behaviour he has exhibited thus far in the play.
“But once put out thy light, thou cunning’st pattern of excelling nature, I know not where is that Promethean heat that can thy light relume.”
Where it comes from: Othello (the play)
Speaker: Othello
Context: Prior to murdering his wife, he is thinking about how there is no going back if he does not choose to kill her. If he takes her life away he can’t undo it so he is aware of the severity of his actions at this moment.
Significance: His reluctance and willingness to wait before just jumping in and smothering her shows that he does still love this woman which is supposed to make the audience feel sad that their love story is going to come to an end on account of him not being able to see past his jealousy and become more rational.
“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.”
Where it comes from: Othello (the play)
Speaker: Othello
Context: Being arrested and basically telling people not to exaggerate the story, but don’t take away from it either. Giving instructions on how to handle his legacy after he is gone.
Significance: He is making it seem like he is speaking to them as if he is going to willingly be arrested and taken as prisoner BUT we know that he does have access to a weapon and plans on using it. This is essentially his final eloquent speech before he takes his life. It also speaks to his cowardice that he is not willing to do the time because he did the crime.
It also solidifies Othello (the play) as a tragedy because your TRAGIC HERO dies BY HIS OWN HANDS and if he had just seen through Iago and been more rational, he could still be living alongside his wife. His own blinding jealousy RUINED HIM and it was preventable. He couldn’t live without Desdemona but above that, he is a coward. He could not face the punishment of killing his wife but avoided this.
