| “A great Arithmetician, one Michael Cassio” | Act 1/ Scene 1- Iago’s anger at being passed over for promotion- establishes him as a Malcontent |
| “Follow him to serve my turn upon him” | Act 1/ Scene 1- Iago’s duplicitous nature is revealed |
| “In following him, I follow but myself” | Act 1/ Scene 1- Iago manipulating and self-serving |
| “The thick lips” | Act 1/ Scene 1- Racial context- Othello being black is his defining feature |
| “An old black ram is tupping your white ewe” | Act 1/ Scene 1- Loss of purity; Othello’s race |
| “Daughter covered with a barbary horse” | Act 1/ Scene 1- Othello being black is doing damage to Brabantio and his family status |
| “Making the beast with two backs” | Act 1/ Scene 1- Iago and Roderigo creating friction through angering Brabantio and negatively portraying Othello |
| “My services shall out tongue his complaints” | Act 1/ Scene 2- Othello’s high status and noble nature |
| “I love the gentle Desdemona” | Act 1/ Scene 2- Establishes the romance that will be the centre of the plot |
| “I must be found, my parts, my title, my perfect soul” | Act 1/ Scene 2- Othello’s arrogance and megalopsychia is demonstrated |
| “Command with years than your weapons” | Act 1/ Scene 2- Othello’s noble nature- never resorting to violence, unlike he does at the end of the play |
| “Valiant Othello, we must straight up employ you” | Act 1/ Scene 3- Othello’s noble and respected nature- senior position in Venice |
| “I won his daughter” | Act 1/ Scene 3- Desdemona is a prize-not real say |
| “She loved me for the danger… I loved her” | Act 1/ Scene 3- Desdemona is more attracted to the stories than Othello himself- infidelity is possible |
| “The Moor, my Lord” | Act 1/ Scene 3- Desdemona loves and respects Othello |
| “Your son in law is far more fair than black” | Act 1/ Scene 3- Racial context; being black is a sign of a lower position in society |
| “Honest Iago” | Act 1/ Scene 3 (or anywhere else)- Constant underestimation and misjudgement of Iago |
| “Hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light” | Act 1/ Scene 3- Iago’s intentions are to make the world see who Othello really is/ the villain that he thinks he is |
| “Warlike Moor” | Act 2/ Scene 1- Sets the tone for war and conflict |
| “Our captain’s captain” | Act 2/ Scene 1- Suggests that Desdemona has the real power; why Cassio approaches her |
| “Rise to play and go to bed to work” | Act 2/ Scene 1- Iago’s sexist view of the role of women in society |
| “With a little a web I will ensnare as great a fly as Cassio” | Act 2/ Scene 1- More Machiavellian scheming to take down Cassio |
| “Lusty moor hath leaped into my seat” | Act 2/ Scene 1- Presents Iago as malcontent as well; Othello has allegedly slept with Emilia |
| “You must not think that I am drunk” | Act 2/ Scene 3- Iago has manipulated Cassio, and he soon going to lose his position |
| “I fear the trust Othello puts in him” | Act 2/ Scene 3- Iago further sowing the seeds to bring down Cassio and move closer to Othello |
| “This barbarous brawl” | Act 2/ Scene 3- On the warlike island, Cassio and Rodrigo have engaged in a fight, leading to Cassio’s dismissal |
| “Never more be an officer of mine” | Act 2/ Scene 3- Iago has successfully removed Cassio from his position as Lieutenant, without Cassio suspecting him |
| “Iago my reputation” | Act 2/ Scene 3- Cassio has fallen out of Othello’s favour, and is permanently/ immaterially damaged |
| “Confess yourself freely to her” | Act 2/ Scene 3- Iago recommends Cassio seeks Desdemona’s help- planting seeds for the false infidelity |
| “How am I then the villain?” | Act 2/ Scene 3- Breaking the fourth wall- recognition that he is the tragic villain |
| “I never knew a Florentine more honest” | Act 3/ Scene 1- Cassio is just one of the characters that has completely misjudged Iago and his capabilities/intentions |
| “It grieves my husband as if the cause were his” | Act 3/ Scene 3- Iago has even manipulated Emilia into believing that he is distraught by Cassio losing his job |
| “My Lord, you know I love you” | Act 3/ Scene 3- Desdemona has remained faithful to Othello the whole way through- he has chosen to believe the rumours |
| “Utter my thoughts? Say they are vile and false?” | Act 3/ Scene 3-Iago is planting ideas in Othello’s head but allowing him to develop them himself |
| “Jealousy! It is the green eyed monster” | Act 3/ Scene 3- Jealousy; ultimately this is Othello’s downfall |
| (She drops the handkerchief) | Act 3/ Scene 3- The hamartia that results in the ocular proof being given, and Othello being convinced |
| “I’ll tear her to pieces” | Act 3/ Scene 3- Othello is a changed man and is now intent on killing Desdemona |
| “This hand is moist, my lady” | Act 3/ Scene 4- Othello subtlety accuses Desdemona of infidelity as he has been convinced by Iago’s manipulation |
| “Pray you, let Cassio be received again” | Act 3/ Scene 4- Desdemona is constantly damaging their relationship by asking Cassio to be reinstated |
| “My Lord is not my lord” | Act 3/ Scene 4- Othello has become a different person due to his loss of trust in Desdemona- Desdemona is still respectful |
| “Heaven keep that monster from Othello’s head” | Act 3/ Scene 4- Aware of the damage that jealousy can do |
| “Lie with her? Lie on her?” | Act 4/ Scene 1- Othello is choosing to believe the infidelity; making the situation worse in his head |
| “How shall I murder him?” | Act 4/ Scene 1- Othello has been convinced; wants to kill Cassio |
| “She shall not love” | Act 4/ Scene 1- Othello has lost his noble nature as he wants to kill Desdemona for a crime she didn’t commit 🙁 |
| (Striking her) | Act 4/ Scene 1- Resorting to violence and physically hurts Desdemona |
| “He is much changed” | Act 4/ Scene 1- Desdemona recognises that Othello is a different person- resorting to violence and abusing her |
| “This would not be believed in Venice” | Act 4/ Scene 1- Othello at the end of the play is not the same noble and respected character that came from Venice |
| “Yet she’s a simple bawd” | Act 4/ Scene 2- Othello dismisses Emilia’s comments; he is choosing to believe that Desdemona has been promiscuous |
| “Your true and loyal wife” | Act 4/ Scene 2- Desdemona is characterised by her marriage to Othello and she has been entirely faithful and devoted |
| “Am I the motive of these tears?” | Act 4/ Scene 2- She has no knowledge of what she has allegedly done to anger Othello |
| “Are you not a strumpet?” | Act 4/ Scene 2- Further loss of noble nature; calling her a naughty woman |
| “Get to your bed” | Act 4/ Scene 3- Othello has no time for Desdemona; he dismisses her with the intention of killing her |
| “Let husbands know, wives have sense like them” | Act 4/ Scene 3- Emilia is a feminist; seeks to prove the contextual position of women wrong |
| “We must not displease him” | Act 4/ Scene 3- Despite Othello’s anger, Desdemona remains respectful and wants to avoid angering him further |
| (Iago from behind wounds Cassio) | Act 5/ Scene 1- Iago stabbing Cassio |
| “O brave Iago, honest and just” | Act 5/ Scene 1- Shows that even in the last Act, even has misjudged Iago |
| (stabs Roderigo) “O damned Iago! O inhuman dog!” | Act 5/ Scene 1- The ultimate act of betrayal for Rodrigo; Iago killing him shows that he was merely a pawn |
| “She must die, else she’ll betray more men” | Act 5/ Scene 2- Othello is branding Desdemona as a cheater; justifying his actions and intention to kill |
| “I will kill thee and love thee after” | Act 5/ Scene 2- Othello has completely lost his soul and noble nature; blinded by Iago |
| “Death’s unnatural that kills for loving” | Act 5/ Scene 2- Desdemona’s attempt to save her self |
| “Out strumpet, weep’st though for him to my face?” | Act 5/ Scene 2- Othello is insulted by Desdemona’s tears; things that |
| “It’s too late” (He smothers her) | Act 5/ Scene 2- It is too late; Othello’s mind is made up and he is intending to kill her |
| “My wife! What wife? I have no wife” | Act 5/ Scene 2- The realisation that he has killed Desdemona; his lover and is now wifeless |
| “A guiltless death I die” | Act 5/ Scene 2- Desdemona is insisting on her innocence, irrespective of Othello killing her |
| “My husband say she was false?” | Act 5/ Scene 2- The realisation that Iago is the mastermind behind Othello and Desdemona’s downfall |
| (Iago stabs his wife) | Act 5/ Scene 2- Shows the extent that Iago is willing to go to |
| “Demand me nothing. What you know, you know. From this time forth I will never speak a word” | Act 5/ Scene 2- Iago’s final words which no one really understands what they mean |
| “Threw a pearl away” | Act 5/ Scene 2- Recognition of what Othello has lost, and that Desdemona was innocent |
| “Spartan dog” “Hellish villain” | Act 5/ Scene 2- Everyone finally realises that Iago is not the honest and brave character that everyone thought he was |
Othello Quotes
August 9, 2019