Othello - Cassio Key Quotes Flashcards
A quote from Iago’s scathing description in Act One, Scene One, describing Cassio to be popular with attractive women, soon to be married to a beautiful lady. This suggests Cassio to have a popularity with women that Iago is able to exploit. Cassio’s
“Almost damned in a fair wife”
A quote from Act Two, Scene One before Desdemona and Othello have arrived in Cyprus. Cassio is truly and genuinely complementary regarding Desdemona, possessing no sordid intent. He simply admires her
“He hath achieved a maid / That paragons [surpasses] description… One that […] Does tire the ininer [exhausts the powers of God]”
“[The storm, which he likens to traitors] having a sense of beauty, do omit / Their moral natures, letting go safely by / The divine Desdemona.”
A quote from Act Two, Scene One in which Cassio wishes the genuine safe passage of Othello so that he may be united with Desdemona in order to consummate their marriage. He shows here no jealousy, wishing Othello and Desdemona’s love to succeed, presenting his sincere loyalty to both. This is starkly contrasted by Iago’s machinations, and presents Cassio as a noble character from the off
“Great Jove [god of sky and thunder], Othello guard / And swell his sail with thine own powerful breath / That he may […] Make love’s quick pants in Desdemona’s arms.”
A quote from Act Two, Scene One spoken by IAGO to Roderigo. Cassio’s weakness for Iago’s manipulation is his handsome and youthful looks and his attraction to naive young women, as Iago sees it, diametrically opposed to Othello, whose weakness lies in his blackness and age
“A devilish knave [crafty rogue]; besides, the knave is handsome, young, and hath all those requisites in him that folly and green minds look after”
An exchange between Iago and Cassio in Act Two, Scene Three as Cassio stands on the watch under Othello’s instruction. Iago speaks of Desdemona with sexually-charged disrespect, while Cassio speaks of her beauty and ‘perfection’. The attitudes of the two men juxtapose. Cassio is limitlessly respectful
CASSIO: She’s a most exquisite lady.
IAGO: And I’ll warrant her full of game.
CASSIO: Indeed she’s a most fresh and delicate creature
[…]
CASSIO: She is indeed perfection.
A quote from Act Two, Scene Three as Iago tries to tempt Cassio to drink in order to manipulate his fall from Othello’s estimations. Cassio is aware of his weakness to alcohol and yet drinks regardless, suggesting Cassio to be inexperienced in
“I have drunk but one cup tonight, and that was craftily qualified [skillfully diluted] too, and behold what innovation [change] it makes here! I am unfortunate in the infirmity, and dare not task my weakness with any more.”
Quotes from Act Four, Scene One, the scene in which Iago tricks Othello into believing the conversation between Cassio and himself is about Desdemona. Cassio demonstrates a distinct unkindness to Bianca, calling her a ‘caitiff’ - a wretch - and a ‘fitchew’ - a polecat, a notoriously malodorous and lecherous animal
“Alas, poor caitiff!”
“‘Tis such another fitchew; marry, a perfumed one”
