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A Level English Literature > Othello Key Quotes: Othello > Flashcards

Othello Key Quotes: Othello Flashcards

1
Q

“Othello’s occupation gone,”

A
  • 3rd person speech.
  • Unstable, not himself.
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2
Q

“A man he is of honesty and trust.”

A
  • Dramatic irony
  • Highlights Othello’s blindness to the true, deceitful nature of Iago.
  • Tragic Flaw: Naivety
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3
Q

(About Othello)
“Your son-in-law is far more fair than black.”

A
  • Racist remark, Othello’s experience outweighs his skin colour but does not entirely negate his otherness.
  • White vs black imagery.
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4
Q

“Excellent wretch,”

A
  • Oxymoron
  • First time Othello’s trust in Desdemona wavers.
  • Frustration
  • Emerging jealously?
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5
Q

“O my fair warrior.”

A
  • ## Othello’s declaration of love to Desdemona upon arriving in Cyprus.
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6
Q

“My life upon her faith!”

A
  • A02: Dramatic irony. Cataphoric reference.
  • Othello later spirals into madness when Desdemona’s loyalty is blackened by Iago’s lies. Due to Iago’s corruption, Othello is lead to murder Desdemona and the finds out she was innocent. As a result, Othello kills himself.
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7
Q

“She’s gone. I am abused and my relief must be to loathe her.”

A
  • Othello is distraught by Desdemona’s “disloyalty” and begins to loathe her.
  • Contrast to his unwavering love for her at the beginning of the play.
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8
Q

“I’ll tear her all to pieces!”

A
  • Violent imagery
  • Jacobean attitude: Black people were barbarian. Othello is beginning to conform to these racist stereotypes.
  • Reflects Othello’s militan/soldier instincts and capabilities.
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9
Q

‘Haply for I am black,’

A
  • Sign of insecurity. Othello believes he is inferior. Desdemona would have better white suitors than him therefore Iago’s accusation against Desdemona is not unplausible.
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10
Q

“If she be false, O then heaven mocks itself.”

A
  • Othello doesn’t want to believe that Desdemona could be false.
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11
Q

“Not I; I must be found.
My parts, my title, and my perfect soul,
Shall manifest me rightly.”

A
  • A02: Repetition of ‘my’: Reveals a hubristic side of Othello. Othello is convinced that his position as General will absolve him of any punishment.
  • Alternatively: Portrays Othello as calm, collected which contradicts the negative representation set up by Iago earlier in the play. –> Position as a Tragic Hero. Othello must begin in a position of greatness before he suffers his tragic fall.
  • Prose: Othello is well-spoken.
  • A03: Stereotypes of Black people in the Elizabethan/Jacobean period.
  • A04: Tragic Hero, Tragic Fall,
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12
Q

(About Othello)
“As loving as his own pride and purposes.”
(Act 1 Scene 1)

A
  • Said by Iago.
  • Creates an unfavourable impression of Othello as a egotisical and arrogant leader.
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13
Q

(About Othello)
“An Old Black Ram,”
(Act 1, Scene 1)

A
  • Racist language.
  • Dehumanises Othello.
  • The Chain of Being positioned animals below humans therefore, Othello is inhumane —> Extremely derogative in the period.
  • Black and White imagery: contextually, black and white can be equated with light and darkness, heaven and hell, good and bad. Shakespeare intensifies this contrast by the use of an antithesis such as ‘black ram’ against ‘white ewe.’ –> Conflict, emphasises Othello’s otherness.
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14
Q

(About Othello)
“Devil,”
(Act 1, Scene 1)

A
  • In Jacobean society, Black people were percieved as satantic and other.
  • Iago villianises Othello to antagonise Brabantio, announcing the ‘devil will make a grandsire of you.’ as he (Othello) and Desdemona have secretly wed.
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15
Q

(About Othello)
“Lavascious Moor,”
Act 1, Scene 1

A
  • Racist stereotype that Black men are sexual deviants, unable to control their desires and compulsions.
  • ‘Moor’ defined by difference, constantly reminded of his otherness.
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16
Q

“Let him do his spite.”
(Act 1, Scene 2)

A
  • Othello has confidence that his status and reputation will override any accusation Brabantio plans to make against him.
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17
Q

About Othello
“Valiant Moor,”

A
  • Othello is brave and well-respected as General.
  • It is this respect and status that allows Othello to overcome colour prejudice at the beginning of the play.
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18
Q

“Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, My very noble and approved good masters,”

A
  • A02: Demonstrative of Othello’s respectfulness and humbleness in the face of his superiors. Contradicts Iago’s, Roderigo and Brabantio’s depictions of him. (e.g. Old Black ram)
  • A03: Miltians, Attitudes to Black people
  • A04: Tragic Hero, Tragic Fall,
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19
Q

“She loved me for the dangers i had passed,
And I loved her that she did pity them.”

A
  • A02: Othello’s speech. Othello recounts how his stories of the past seduced the ‘Divine Desdemona,’ not witchcraft or potions as Brabantio accuses him of. Reinforces Othello’s maturity, calmness and admirable nature.
  • Alternatively: Showcases the fragility of Othello’s and Desdemona’s love. Othello is attracted to Desdemona for her pity and compassion towards his trials and tribulations, whereas Desdemona is in love with Othello for the stories he would tell. Do they actually even love each other for themselves?
  • A03: Interacial marriages, Marriage, Women.
20
Q

“My speculative and officied instruments, That my disports corrupt and taint my business, Let housewives make a skillet of my helm.”

A
  • Othello promises he will not be distracted by Desdemona in Cyprus.
  • Cataphoric reference: Othello becomes very distracted by Desdemona in Cyprus.
21
Q

(Act 2, Scene 1)

(3 Gentleman about Othello)
“warlike Moor Othello,”

A
  • Othello is an ‘other’ but he is still highly admired and regarded by his peers.
    A02: Peak of Othello’s high, noble status. He will inevitably fall. –> Shakespeare conforms to aristotle tragic hero.
  • + Moor and Othello –> Highlights how, no matter how respected he is, Othello will always be percieved as ‘Other’ from the rest of Venitan society.
  • A03: Black people in the Jacobean/Elizabethan age.
  • A04: Tragic Hero,
22
Q

Montano: “Brave Othello,”

A
  • Othellio is admired by his equals.
  • However, this admiration does not negate Othello’s otherness.
23
Q

Cassio: “Great Jove Othello guard,”

A
  • Jove is also known as Zeus in Greek Mythology. Zeus was the king of the Gods.
  • Cassio admires Othello
  • Emphasies Othello’s reputation as a great general, highlighting his power and dominance.
24
Q

I prithee speak to me as to thy thinkings. (3.3.)

A
  • Once Iago has begun to poison Othello’s mind, Othello continues to interrogate Iago for his knowledge.
  • Beginning of his downfall.
  • Tragic Downfall, Tragic Heroes.
25
Q

No, Iago, I’ll see before I doubt. (3.3.)

A
  • Othello will believe Iago if he provides proof of Desdemona’s infidelity.
  • First sign of Othello’s wavering trust in Desdemona and her loyalty.
26
Q

Even so my bloody thoughts with violent pace
Shall ne’er look back, ne’er ebb to humble love. (3.3.)

A
  • Othello cannot think of anything other than his desire to enact revenge and harm Desdemona.
  • Violent nature.
27
Q

Then must you speak
Of one that loved not wisely but too well. (5.2.)

A
  • Othello wishes for the Gentlemen to preserve his reputation but also recount what happened in Cyprus truthfully, leaving out no detail.
28
Q

‘If I do prove her haggard, […] I’d whistle her off and let her down the wind.”

A
  • ‘Haggard,’ Hawk Imagery, negative perception of women.
  • Desdemona was disowned by her father. If Othello were to cast her out, Desdemona would be on the streets and likely become a prostitute.
29
Q

‘Your napkin is too little,’

A
  • Desdemona’s love is no longer soothing to Othello.
30
Q

‘I will deny thee nothing.’

A
  • Last time Othello and Desdemona romantically connect.
  • Pathos
31
Q

‘When I love thee not Chaos is come again.’

A
  • Dramatic Irony.
  • Prophetic. When Othello stops loving Desdemona, chaos comes.
  • Fate.
32
Q

‘This fellow’s of exceeding honesty.’

A
  • Dramatic irony
  • Othello’s blindness
33
Q

‘Strumpet, I come!’ Forth of my heart those charms, thine eyes, are blotted; Thy bed, lust-stained, shall with lust’s blood be spotted.’

A
  • Othello finalises his decision to murder Desdemona.
  • A02: Rhyming couplets. Suggests power, confidence. Othello is assured in his decision to murder his wife.
  • A04: Anagnorisis, Tragic fall, Maniuplation
34
Q

‘Yet I’ll shed her blood Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow.’

A
  • A02: Similie. Othello wants to preserve Desdemona’s beauty. Othello still loves Desdemona but is blinded by her alleged betrayal. The pureness of Desdemona is highlighted by her skin colour. Desdemona’s skin should be preserved. –> Othello’s race insecurity. –> Othello believes that Desdemona would be disloyal because of it.
  • A03: Racism,
  • A04: Blindness, Tragic flaw, Harmatia, Pathos
35
Q

‘I will kill thee And love thee after.’

A
  • A02: Shakespeare amplifiys the tragedy by conveying Othello’s confliction. He is assured that Desdemona must die but his remaining feelings are causing uncertainty. -> Last hope for the audience. Othello’s compassion may still win out. -> Heightens the tragedy when it does not.
  • +Parallel to Desdemona ‘His unkindness may defeat my life but never taint my love.’
  • A04: Pathos, Catharsis, Blindness.
36
Q

‘I have done the state some service, and they know’t.’

A
  • Reminder to other characters and the audience of Othello’s admirable virtues and valour he once had. -> Spoken in Verse.
  • Emphasises his fall from noble general to disgraced murderer.
37
Q

‘As doth the raven o’er the infected house.’

A
  • A02: Metaphor for infection. Showcases how Iago’s manipulation has poisoned Othello’s mind. Parallels to ‘pour this pestilence into his ear.’ Continuation of poison and sickness imagery.
38
Q

‘If that the Earth could teem with woman’s tears Each drop she falls would prove a crocidile.’

A
  • A02: Metaphor. Othello believes that women such as Desdemona are inherently false. That they exploit men’s weakness with false tears.
  • A03: Reflects certain attitudes from the church in England about women and deception orignating from the biblical story of Adam and Eve. It was Eve who manipulated Adam to eat the apple.
  • A04: Ignorance, Mistreatment of women,
39
Q

“Farewell the tranquil mind! Farewell content! Farewell the plumed troop and the big wars That make ambition virtue - O farewell!”

A
  • Repetition of ‘Farewell,’: Loss of occupation assurity, thus loss of sanity. Reminscent of Cassio’s lowest point, ‘O reputation I have lost the immortal part of myself and what remains is bestial.’
  • Exclamation marks: Distressed. Antithesis to the beginning of the play where Othello was calm, collected and well-spoken.
40
Q

Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.
Good signior, you shall more command with years
Than with your weapons.

A
  • Verse
  • Well-spoken.
  • Demonstrates Othello’s virtuous nature.
41
Q

“Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell!”

A
  • Othello now holds extreme hatred towards Desdemona and wants to hurt her.
  • Display of cruelty
  • Contrasts ‘Gentle Desdemona,’
42
Q

‘Like to the Pontic Sea,’

A
  • Simile
  • Othello feels nothing but evil and hatred.
  • ‘Black’ connotes darkness and evilness, Black vs White imagery.
  • ‘Sea,’ force of nature, self-inflated sense of worth.
43
Q

Lewd minx

A
  • Contrasts to ‘Sweet Desdemona,’ and ‘my fair warrior,’
44
Q

‘For here’s a young and sweating devil here.’

A
  • ‘sweating’ happens when you lie.
  • ‘devil’ opposes heaven.
45
Q

‘as Dian’s visage, is now begrimed and black as mine own face.’

A
  • Othello’s insecurity of his race. He is reflecting Iago’s manipulation.
46
Q

‘This forked plague,’

A
  • anaphoric to ‘pestilence’ Iago and Othello both use poison/plague imagery which showcases how Iago has corrupted Othello. - He mirrors his speech.
  • ‘forked’ Mark of decieved husbands. Othello is already beginning to consider Desdmona as false –. Iago’s impact.
  • Reference to cuckhold. –> They grow antlers when their spouse betrays them and they are not aware of their deceit.
47
Q

‘I’d rather be a toad.’

A
  • Othello begins to adopt racist attitude as Iago’s control over him grows.
  • Animal imagery.

A Level English Literature (81 decks)

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