English External Quotes

Quotes with context, theme, devices

“I am not what I am” (1.1)

Spoken by Iago to Roderigo while explaining his plan to pretend he loves and serves Othello while plotting his ruin. Proudly admits he is a deceptive liar who wears a mask of loyalty

Biblical allusion (inverting a divine statement to position himself as a demonic figure)

Dramatic Irony (Iago tells the audience his true motives straight away)

“An old black ram is tupping your white ewe” (1.1)

Iago and Roderigo wake up Brabantio for their personal motives. Meant to enrage Brabantio about his daughter’s secret marriage.

Metaphor

Animal Imagery (reduces humans to farm animals)

Motif of black and white (provoke outrage against a difference in purity/race)

“She loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she did pity them.” (1.3)

Othello defends himself to the Venetian Senate, against accusations of witchcraft to win Desdemona’s love.

Foreshadowing (love is built on external performance rather than trust and familiarity, dooming them)

“My life upon her faith.” (1.3)

After Brabantio warns Desdemona might deceive him, like she did him ,Othello responds with absolute confidence in her faith and loyalty

Dramatic Irony

Foreshadowing (deeply ironic, Iago manipulates Othello into doubting Desdemona, leading Othello to kill her)

“She has deceived her father and may deceive thee”, (1.3)

Brabantio warns if Desdemona could betray him she might betray Othello

Foreshadowing (dramatic set up for Iago’s later manipulation)

Irony (audience knows Desdemona is entirely loyal, but Iago echoes and weaponises this exact line later)

“With as little web as this will ensnare as great a fly as Cassio.” (2.1)

In an aside to the audience, Iago reveals his plan to ruin Cassio, twisting his good manners into evidence of an affair.

Metaphor

Animal Imagery (dehumanises Cassio)

Soliloquy (dramatic device)

“Reputation, Reputation, Reputation! O, I have lost my reputation” (2.3)

Cassio cries after he loses his military rank in a drunken brawl engineered by Iago.
Repetition (shows Cassio’s frantic state of mind and panic)

Hyperbole

Exclaimation

“Men should be what they seem.” (3.3)

Pivotal conversation where Iago plants seeds of jealousy, pretending to hesitate about Cassio’s honesty and his “worst thoughts”.
Dramatic Irony (Iago lectures Othello on honesty while actively decieving him)

Juxtaposition (compared to his “i am not what i am”)

Hypocrisy

“O beware my lord of jealousy. It is the green eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.” (3.3)

Iago to Othello, when Othello notices him acting suspicion, Iago delivers this famous line, planting seed of jealousy

Personification

Metaphor

“Excellent wretch! Perdition my soul. But I do love thee!” (3.3)

A pure overwhelming wave of affection for Desdemona, expressed by Othello, after Desdemona pleads Cassios case.

Oxymoron (excellent vs wretch, shows tender affection while hinting at the unstable, fragile nature of their relationship)

“Arise black vengeance from thy hollow cell.” (3.3)

Othello when he fully succumbs to jealousy and hatred towards Desdemona.

Personification of vengeance

Metaphor

Motif (black and white again)

“I took you for that cunning whore of Venice.” (4.2)

Othello confronts a bewildered Desdemona, accusing her of betrayal

Dramatic Irony (accusing Desdemona of deception when he is the victim)

Juxtaposition (derogatory language contrasting his noble past persona with his raw, erratic and broken syntax)

“I do think it is their husbands fault if wives do fall” (4.3) AND “The ills we do, their ills instruct us to” (4.3)

Emilia discusses nature of infidelity to Desdemona, arguing if women commit adultery it’s ultimately the fault of husband’s neglecting their duties, she defends women.

Opposing the Elizabethan AVB’s

“I kissed thee ere I killed thee: no way but this, killing myself to die upon a kiss.” (5.2)

Othello’s final line of the play, he realises Desdemona is innocent and kills himself to reunite with her.

Juxtaposition (kissed vs killed, tender love vs violent act of murder)

Irony (Othello must destroy himself to be at peace)

“Then must you speak of one that loved not wisely but too well” (5.2)

Othello is about to commit suicide and asks the Venetian officers to describe him accurately

“What wife? I have no wife.” (5.2)

Othello speaks this right after he murdered Desdemona, realising the depth and tragedy of his actions

Broken repetition (othello’s fixation and processing)

“From this time forth, I never will speak a word” (5.2)

Iago refuses to offer any confession, explanation or repentance, maintaining complete control and mystery

Irony (he deprives audiences of the explanation they want)

Hyperbole (highlights his ultimate defiance)

“Work on, My medicine work! Thus credulous fools are caught.” (4.1)

Iago as he manipulates Othello into believing Desdemona’s infidelity, hurting Othello greatly

Soliloquy revealing how Iago views Othello’s trusting, honourable nature as a weakness to be poisoned.

“I will never wear my heart upon my sleeves, for daws to peck at.” (1.1)

Iago reveals his deceptive nature early on, scorning people who are genuine and honest.

Famous metaphor he is criticising

"Perdition catch my soul, but I do love thee! and when I love thee not, chaos is come again." (3.3)

Othello expresses the absolute power Desdemona holds over his emotional world, recognising that losing his love or trust for her will plunge his life into total ruin/disorder

“I think my wife be honest, and think she is not.” (3.3)

Othello's internal conflict; uncertainty; the collapse of reason under manipulation (evidence in arguments about jealousy/manipulation)

“Thus do I ever make my fool my purse.” (1.3)

Iago delivers this line in a soliloquy after manipulating the wealthy, lovelorn nobleman Roderigo. He gives him jewels to pass to Desdemona as a gift but Iago keeps them for himself.

“O, blood, blood, blood!” (3.3)

Othello’s shift towards violence, his demand to spill blood and jealousy overcomes any reason left.

“I will speak as liberal as the north.” (5.2)

Emilia will be truthful, defying male authority by sharing her husband’s ill secrets.

“A guiltless death I die.” (5.2)

After protecting Othello with her dying death, Desdemona affirms her absolute innocence to Emilia. Tragic destruction of love.

“Trifles light as air, Are to the jealous confirmations strong, As proofs of holy writ.”

Iago after planning to plant the handkerchief. He notes to someone who is already jealousy, the flimsiest most insignificant evidence will be accepted as absolute truth (holy writ)

“Haply, for I am black, and have not those soft parts of conversation that chamberers have.”

othello doubts himself, blaming his race. social prejudice and manipulation heavily impacts his self-perception.