Othello Key Quotes extended

Act 1 Scene 1: Iago to Roderigo

I am not what I am.

“I am not what I am.” techniques

biblical allusion, paradox (present tense), characterisation

“I am not what I am.” themes

tragic villain, appearance vs reality, deception, treachery

Act 1 Scene 1: Iago to Brabantio

Even now, now, very now, an old black ram / Is tupping your white ewe.

“Even now, now, very now, an old black ram / is tupping your white ewe.” techniques

repetition, imagery, juxtaposition, metaphor

“Even now, now, very now, an old black ram / is tupping your white ewe.” themes

race, the tragic villain/hero, gender

Act 1 Scene 2: Othello to Iago

My services which I have done the signiory / Shall out-tongue his complaints.

“My services which I have done the signiory / Shall out-tongue his complaints.” techniques

blank verse, modal verb, motif

“My services which I have done the signiory / Shall out-tongue his complaints.” themes

the tragic hero, race, rationality vs irrationality

Act 1 Scene 3: Desdemona to duke, othello etc

…if i be left behind, / A moth of peace, and he go to the war, / The rites for which I love him are bereft me.

“…if i be left behind, / A moth of peace, and he go to the war, / The rites for which I love him are bereft me.” techniques

staging, imagery

“…if i be left behind, / A moth of peace, and he go to the war, / The rites for which I love him are bereft me.” themes

the tragic victim, innocence, gender, personal and political spheres

Act 1 Scene 3: Brabantio to Othello

Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see: / She has deceived her father, and may thee.

“Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see: / She has deceived her father, and may thee.” techniques

imagery, rhyming couplet, foreshadowing

“Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see: / She has deceived her father, and may thee.” themes

love and marriage, jealousy, appearance vs reality

Act 1 Scene 3: Iago to Roderigo

Virtue? A fig! ‘Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus. Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our souls are gardeners.

“Virtue? A fig! ‘Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus. Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our souls are gardeners.” techniques

prose, biblical allusion, pronouns (our)

“Virtue? A fig! ‘Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus. Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our souls are gardeners.” themes

the tragic villain, fate vs free will, debasement

Act 2 Scene 1: Cassio to Montano and gentlemen

Our great Captain’s captain.

“Our great Captain’s captain.” techniques

adjective, imagery

“Our great Captain’s captain.” themes

gender, personal and political spheres, the tragic victim, power

Act 2 Scene 1: Othello to Desdemona

Oh my fair warrior…. Oh, my soul’s joy.

“Oh my fair warrior…. Oh, my soul’s joy.” techniques

exclamation, pronouns (my), imagery, motif

“Oh my fair warrior…. Oh, my soul’s joy.” themes

the tragic hero/victim, gender, love and marriage

Act 2 Scene 1: Iago soliloquy

…to diet my revenge, / For that I do suspect the lusty Moore / Hath leap's into my seat, the thought whereof / Doth like a poisonous mineral gnaw my inwards.

“…to diet my revenge, / For that I do suspect the lusty Moore / Hath leap's into my seat, the thought whereof / Doth like a poisonous mineral gnaw my inwards.” techniques

imagery, euphemism, soliloquy

“…to diet my revenge, / For that I do suspect the lusty Moore / Hath leap's into my seat, the thought whereof / Doth like a poisonous mineral gnaw my inwards.” themes

the tragic villain, gender, jealousy

Act 2 Scene 3: Othello to Montano

My blood begins my safer guide to rule, / And passion having my best judgement collies, / Assays to lead the way.

“My blood begins my safer guide to rule, / And passion having my best judgement collies, / Assays to lead the way.” techniques

juxtaposition, imagery, motif

“My blood begins my safer guide to rule, / And passion having my best judgement collies, / Assays to lead the way.” themes

the tragic hero, leadership, rationality vs irrationality, personal and political spheres

Act 2 Scene 3: Iago to Desdemona

All’s well now sweeting; come away to bed.

“All’s well now sweeting; come away to bed.” techniques

language, imperative, staging

“All’s well now sweeting; come away to bed.” themes

the tragic hero/victim, gender

Act 2 Scene 3: Cassio to Iago

Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial.

“Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial.” techniques

prose, repetition, juxtaposition

“Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial.” themes

rationality vs irrationality, debasement

Act 2 Scene 3: Iago soliloquy

So I will turn her virtue into pitch, / And out of her own goodness make the net / That shall enmesh them all.

“So I will turn her virtue into pitch, / And out of her own goodness make the net / That shall enmesh them all.” techniques

soliloquy, modal verb, imagery

“So I will turn her virtue into pitch, / And out of her own goodness make the net / That shall enmesh them all.” themes

the tragic villain/victim, appearance vs reality

Act 3 Scene 3: Othello to Iago

I do love thee; and when I love thee not, / Chaos is come again.

“I do love thee; and when I love thee not, / Chaos is come again.” techniques

motif, imagery, present tense, modal

“I do love thee; and when I love thee not, / Chaos is come again.” themes

the tragic hero, love and marriage, leadership, personal and political spheres

Act 3 Scene 3: Othello to Iago

“Think, my lord!” Alas, thou echo’st me / As if there were some monster in thy thought / Too hideous to be shown.

““Think, my lord!” Alas, thou echo’st me / As if there were some monster in thy thought / Too hideous to be shown.” techniques

repetition, imagery

““Think, my lord!” Alas, thou echo’st me / As if there were some monster in thy thought / Too hideous to be shown.” themes

the tragic hero/villain, rationality vs irrationality, jealousy

Act 3 Scene 3: Iago to Othello

O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.

"O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on." techniques

metaphor, foreshadowing, personification

"O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on." themes

jealousy, debasement, the tragic hero