English Quotes

Blessed figs end! The wine she drinks is made from grapes. If she were blessed she would never have loved the Moor” Iago to Roderigo (act 1, scene 1)

Dismissive metaphor, mocks the idea that Desdemona is blessed or virtuous. Reveals Iago’s materialistic worldview, stripping human emotion and love of nobility (their love is a social transgression)

Displays Iago’s deep sated prejudice against Othello and ignites Iago’s violent machinations to reagin order and return the patriarchial society to an acceptable place.

“they are all but stomachs, and we are all but food. They eat us hungerly and when they are full, they belch us” Emilia to desdemona and othello (act 3, scene 4)

Hyperbole, intensifies the emotional effect and emphasises the brutality of male behaviour. It dramatises the sense of Venetian women as objects and disposable. Emilia defying societal expecations, enrages Iago.

“i know my price, I am worth no worse a place” iago to roderigo (act 1, scene 1)

Dramatic Irony - audience knows Iago is about to plot betrayal, yet he portrays himself as someone who has been wronged and undervalued. He pretends to be rational and justified but his intentions are rooted in envy and jealousy not fairness.

Direct statement of Iago’s envy and bitterness, suggesting Othello’s outsider status threatens Iago’s ambition and position in Venitian society.

“A guiltless death I die” “O who hath done this deed?” “Nobody, I myself. Farewell. commend me to my kind lord. O farewell!” desdemona to emilia and othello (act 5, scene 2)

paradox - directly emphasises her blamelessness, she dies not because of her actions but because Othello had wrongfully placed his trust in Iago, who manipulated him to do the deed.

She states this wothout anger or resentment and presents herself in a way which exemplifies her grace and quiet strength in a display of her inner dignity.

Shows her loving and innocent demeanour within the play.

“Let heaven, and men and devils, let them all, all, all cry shame against me, yet I’ll still speak”

Anaphora - emphasises Emilia’s passionate resolve and growing emotional intensity. displays her moral courage and defiance of societal expectations of obedience and silence. She challenges not only her husband but the current societal norms of venetian women.

Emilia becomes a symbol of female resistance, by choosing loyalty to justice and loyalty over her husband and submission to male authority, she displays powerful rebellion against oppressive expecations placed on women.

Iago the lashes out and stabs her because of her contradictory display of dominance and resistance to societal expectations. This breaking fo social norms ends in violence to restore order.