Quotes - Iago Flashcards
Act One Scene One
‘I am not what I am.’
‘I am not what I am.’
Iago speaks in paradoxes, representing his duplicitous nature, revealing his deceitful behaviour.
Act One Scene Three
‘Virtue? A fig! ‘Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus.’
‘It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission of the will. Come, be a man.’
‘Put money in thy purse.’
‘Virtue? A fig! ‘Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus.’
‘It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission of the will. Come, be a man.’
‘Put money in thy purse.’
This demonstrates Iago’s lack of morals, with no consideration of virtue or love. Demonstrates how he exploits Roderigo, using him for money due to his foolish nature. Also, presents male stereotypes of honour, and shows how love is seen as a weakness.
Act Two Scene One
‘You are pictures out of doors, bells in your parlours, wild-cats in your kitchens, saints in your injuries, devils being offended, players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds.’
‘You are pictures out of doors, bells in your parlours, wild-cats in your kitchens, saints in your injuries, devils being offended, players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds.’
Syndetic list of metaphors about women. Presents his patriarchal attitudes, objectifying, grouping and animalising women.
Act Two Scene Three (1)
‘Reputation is an idle and most false imposition, oft got without merit and lost without deserving.’
‘Reputation is an idle and most false imposition, oft got without merit and lost without deserving.’
This statement is duplicitous and ironic, seeing as Iago’s entire motivation throughout the play is his loss of honour. Here, he is setting his plan in place, by pretending to loyal to Cassio.
Act Two Scene Three (2)
‘I’ll pour this pestilence into his ear:
That she repeals him for her body’s lust.’
‘I’ll pour this pestilence into his ear:
That she repeals him for her body’s lust.’
Adds to the motif of poison, Iago being a toxic influence on everyone’s lives. Semantic field of hell and villainy.
Act Three Scene Three
‘Beware, my lord, of jealousy:
It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on.’
‘Beware, my lord, of jealousy:
It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on.’
Iago pretends to be loyal, warning Othello, but this is ironic, it is Iago himself who Othello should he warned about, as Iago is the jealous character.
Act Four Scene One (1)
‘Work on,
My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught.’
‘Work on,
My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught.’
Reoccurring motif of Iago poisoning/medicating Othello with his jealousy. Iago is presented here like a witch - he is the true evil but people favour him due to their racism of Othello.
Act Four Scene One (2)
‘Good sir, be a man.’
‘A passion most unsuiting such a man.’
‘You’re all in all in spleen
And nothing of a man.’
‘Good sir, be a man.’
‘A passion most unsuiting such a man.’
‘You’re all in all in spleen
And nothing of a man.’
Iago’s repetition of ‘man’, and focus on manhood is used to question Othello’s masculinity, suggesting his passion makes his weak. He utilises Othello’s need for honour, repeatedly demeaning Othello.
Act Four Scene Two
‘Do not weep, do not weep! Alas the day!’
‘Do not weep, do not weep! Alas the day!’
Iago falsely pretends to comfort Desdemona. This shows his duplicitous nature, always thinking about his personal gain.
Act Five Scene One
‘I do suspect this trash
To be a party in this injury.’
‘I do suspect this trash
To be a party in this injury.’
Framing Bianca for his evil acts, scapegoating women. ‘Strumpet’ particularly shows his hateful attitudes towards women, showing no respect towards them.
Act Five Scene Two
‘Villainy, villainy, villainy!’
‘Precious villain!’
‘‘Tis a notorious villain.’
‘Demi-devil.’
‘Villainy, villainy, villainy!’
‘Precious villain!’
‘‘Tis a notorious villain.’
‘Demi-devil.’
All characters finally realise what Iago truly is, but it is too late in the tragedy to stop him. The repetition of ‘villain’ highlights Iago as a Machiavellian character, and the fulfilment of a tragic villain.
