Act 2 Othello best quotes

"Come on, come on; you are pictures out of doors, bells in your parlours, wildcats in your kitchens... players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds" - Iago

Theme - Gender/appearances

asyndetic listing - created successions of metaphors

antithesis - contrast public image and private image of women

double entendre - housewives mean respectable house manager or prostitute

context - Jacobean "Shrew" women who challenged male authority using speech, Venice strict laws but cunning and challenging prostitutes

"I do suspect the lusty moor... Doth like a poisonous mineral gnaw my inwards" - Iago

Theme - prejudice/deception

simile - makes him sick of Othello making love to wife

metaphor - for poison

context - fear of cuckoldry

"Reputation, reputation, reputation! ... and what remains is bestial" - Cassio

Theme - identity

epizeuxis - immediate repetition shows psychological distress and obsession with reputation

hyperbolic metaphor - someone is nothing but ghost or animal

Dichotomy - contrast between immortal and bestial - divine soul and animal instinct

context - honour was tangible asset of soldier and men, great chain of being

"Divinity of hell! when will the blackest sins put on ... heavenly shows As do I" - Iago

Theme - deception

biblical/sinister imagery

Antithesis - blackest and heavenly reinforce deception

context - The Medieval Vice - character who address audience and shares plans, dark humour, motives. Equivocator tells truths in way that deceives. Relates to gunpowder plot which sparked anxiety and priests where executed for doing this