Othello Act 1 Quotes

“…thou, Iago, who hast my purse As if the strings were thine“

-Roderigo

-Roderigo is gullible and Iago is exploting him financially

“In following him, I follow but myself”

-Iago

-He is loyal to Othello but only out of self interest

“I am not what I am“

-Iago

-He is deceptive, not to be trusted and admits it himself

“A lascivious Moor“

-Roderigo

-Derogatory description of Othello with racial undertones

“An old black ram Is tupping your white ewe“

-Iago

-used animalistic term in a vulgar way to describe sex

-Also compares features showing predjudice

“But that I love the gentle Desdemona, I would not my unhoused free condition Put into circumscription and confine For the sea’s worth. , “

-Othello

He leaves us no doubt that he does genuinely loves Desdemona, or he would not have given up his life as a single man

“She loved me for the dangers I had passed, And I Loved her that she did pity them“

-Othello

-Desdemona fell in love because of the adventures and exciting life Othello led, and he loved her for understanding

“That I did love the Moor to live with him, My downright violence and storm of fortunes May trumpet to the world.“

-Desdemona

-She confirms that she loves Othello truly and absolutely, for who he is

“If virtue no delighted beauty lack, Your son-in-law is far more fair then black“

-Duke

-Praises Othello’s virtue as something that over-shadows the fact that he is black

“Look to her, Moor, If thou hast eyes to see: She has deceived her father, and may thee“

-Barbantio

-a warning to Othello no to trust Desdemona, which may plant a seed in Othello’s mind which later on bears fruit.

“Thus do I ever make my fool my purse“

-Iago

-It is easy to exploit the foolish and make money.

“Hell and night

must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light“

-Iago

-He has conceived an evil plan