Othello Quote Table

OTHELLO QUOTES RACE QUOTE MEANING IAGO - ACT 1 SCENE 1 Even now, now, very now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise! Awake the snorting citizens with the bell, Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you. Arise, I say! Iago uses racist slurs when Iago says an "old black ram" (Othello) is "tupping" (sleeping with) Brabantio's "white ewe" (Desdemona), he plays on Elizabethan notions that black men are animal-like representing him as a dirty ram and Desdemona is a pure 8white ewe9. This seems geared at manipulating Brabantio's fears of miscegenation (when a couple "mixes races" through marriage and/or sex) ACT 1 SCENE 1 (IAGO ABOUT OTHELLO) < The devil= This gives the reader a growing understanding of the racial difference in society. Equating dark skin with the devil and satan. IAGO - ACT 1 SCENE 1 Do you service and you think we are ruffians, you'll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse Iago uses animal imagery in his racist diatribe against Othello, which is grounded in the idea that black men (and women) are inhuman. Comparing Othello to an animal once again and almost referring to their love as bestiality, a woman having sex with a horse. A metaphor for how 8incorrect9 their relationship is. BRABANTIO - ACT 1 SCENE 2 < Thou has enchanted her= and Chains of magic= This motif of black magic is used throughout the play, saying that Othello woo9d Des with magic. It has major links to contextual racial prejudice and the historical belief that black people were involved with dark magic. DUKE OF VENICE - ACT 1 SCENE 3 < More fair than black= This oxymoron implies that Othello is "fair" despite the fact that he is black. This suggests that Othello is the exception to the rule and all other black people are bad. OTHELLO - ?? < Her name, that was as fresh as Dian’s visage, is now begrimed and black as mine own face.= < Pale and shining face of the moon=, Othello is taking the racism into his own psychology, othering himself, pointing out differences between him and Desdemona THE TREATMENT OF WOMEN/ FEMINISM QUOTES MEANING ACT 1 SCENE 3 Brabantion to Othello < She has deceived her father, may thee= This is dramatic irony, referring to the fact that Othello will, later on, believe that Desdemona has deceived him. The blame is always put on women. ACT 1 SCENE 3 Brabantio to Othello < Foul thief, where has thou stowed my daughter?= Showing that women are treated as property of men; likening them to objects that can be 8stolen9 or claimed by others. ACT 2 SCENE 1 IAGO < YOU ARE … DEVILS BEING OFFENDED, PLAYERS IN HOUSEWIFERY, AND HUSSIES IN YOUR BEDS= Iago uses the plural forms implying that his statements apply to all women. He makes observations that women pretend to be nice in public contexts but are tumultuous in their private and domestic settings. ACT 3 SCENE 3 Iago < In Venice, they do let God see the pranks They dare not show their husbands. Their best conscience Is not to leave 't undone, but keep 't unknown.= Iago says that no woman can be trusted, that deep down women are promiscuous and disloyal. Iago9s words start a snowball effect that ends in Desdemona and Othello9s fateful deaths. Emelia < They are not ever jealous for the cause But jealous for they’re jealous.= Desdemona believes she can prove her innocence to Othello, but Emilia knows the true nature of man, that once he is suspicious there will be no change in his view. Emelia < I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to speak: My mistress here lies murdered in her bed.= Finding her voice, breaking gender expectations Why has it taken this long, and such a tragic event, to bring out this side of her? Would it otherwise never have been revealed? Desdemona < His unkindness may defeat my life but never taint my love= Desdemonas purity and faithfulness, both virtues of Elizabethan women are the exact reason for her untimely death. MANIPULATION / DECEIT QUOTES MEANING Iago < I am not what I am.= The contradiction of this statement clearly establishes Iago9s duplicity early in the drama: how he appears throughout the play is very different from the reality of his beliefs and motives. Othello/Other characters < Honest Iago= This line of dramatic irony allows audiences to realise how deceptive and manipulative Iago9s character is due to the chilling change of character towards the audience and then to other characters. Iago < Demand me nothing. What you know you know= Iagos last line holds power over the audience, it shows that he has no remorse for the chaos he9s caused. It leaves Iago9s motive a mystery and refuses to allow for a neat resolution and a complete restoration of order. Iago < I follow him to serve my turn upon him.= Iago understands the strategic advantage that false friendship gives him. As a trusted confidante, he is able to sway Othello9s opinion and manipulate him much more effectively. The quote shows that from the moment the action begins, Iago is already looking for ways to bring about Othello9s downfall. Brabantio < She has deceived her father, and may thee= This is a prophetic but deeply ironic warning by Brabantio. He warns Othello to be aware that Desdemona may not be as virtuous as she appears to be. He questions this at the time due to the manipulation and control Iago has over him. JEALOUSY QUOTE MEANING Iago Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on. Iago issues this warning even though he knows it will actually intensify Othello9s feelings of jealousy. His use of the colour green stems from a Renaissance belief that green was a < bilious hue,= linked to an imbalance of the causes of fear and jealousy. IMAGERY, METAPHOR OTHELLOS CYCLE OF DOWNFALL E.G IAGOS PLAN - MANIPULATION CAUSING JEALOUSY CAUSING INSECURITY / DOWNFALL QUOTE MEANING < Ill tear her all to pieces= - Othello Having been convinced of desdemonas disloyalty, Othellos true voilent and aggressive nature is revealed. The rational man he has been trying to portray is now forgotten and the reality of the character is seen. Jealousy drives him to his death. “Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio; / Wear your eyes thus: not jealous nor secure.= - Iago Iago gives Othello countless times to see them together. This interaction takes on a new meaning in the eyes of Othello. He can now continue his plan and has control over Othellos actions.