Othello Key Quotes and Meanings

A set of vocabulary-style flashcards defining the significance and context of major quotes from Shakespeare's Othello.

"Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners."

Spoken by Iago in Act 1.3; conveys that we control our own destiny through willpower and is used by Iago to justify his manipulation.

"Put money in thy purse."

Spoken by Iago in Act 1.3; advises practical materialism and illustrates his cynical, manipulative worldview.

"If after every tempest come such calms, May the winds blow till they have wakened death!"

Spoken by Othello in Act 2.1; expresses happiness with Desdemona so intense he would prefer death to losing it, which foreshadows the tragedy.

"Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation!"

Spoken by Cassio in Act 2.3; expresses despair over lost honor and the belief that reputation is more valuable than life itself.

"O, beware, my lord, of jealousy: / It is the green-eyed monster…"

Spoken by Iago in Act 3.3; describes jealousy as destructive and self-consuming, which is ironic since Iago plants the jealousy in Othello.

"But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve / For daws to peck at: I am not what I am."

Spoken by Iago in Act 1.1; establishes his deception as he claims false honesty while hiding his true malicious nature.

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

Spoken by Iago in Act 1.1; a racist, crude reference to Othello and Desdemona's relationship used to inflame Brabantio's prejudice.

"She wished she had not heard it, yet she wished / That heaven had made her such a man."

Spoken by Othello in Act 1.3; indicates Desdemona is drawn to Othello's strength and nobility, foreshadowing her admiration despite prejudice.

"My noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty…"

Spoken by Desdemona in Act 1.3; establishes her integrity and the conflict between her loyalty to her father and her husband.