Othello Key Quotes: Cassio Flashcards
‘One Michael Cassio, a Florentine, A fellow almost damned in a fair wife,’
About Cassio
- Establishes Iago’s jealousy towards Cassio. Othello has promoted Cassio over him despite being advised to promote Iago instead. –> Potential motive.
‘Never set a squadron in the field,’
About Cassio
- Highlights Cassio’s inexperience.
- Iago portrays Cassio as unfit for the promotion, thus constructing a negative impression of Cassio to the audience.
‘Forsooth, a great arithmatician,’
About Cassio
- More jealously from Iago.
‘Mere prattle without practice,’
About Cassio
- Iago states that Cassio’s stragety is all theory and he has never actually experienced a true battle.
‘I am unfortunate in the infirmity and dare not task my weakness with anymore,’
- Cassio reveals to Iago that he is easily inhibited. Weakness that Iago exploits, causing Cassio to lose his job.
‘Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself and what remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation!’
- Without his career and reputation, Cassio feels inhumane.
‘Drunk! And speak parrot! And squabble! Swagger! Swear! And discourse futusan with one’s own shadow!’
- Speech in prose conveys Cassio’s desperation and at anger at himself for getting drunk and instigating a fight.
- Demotion of speech also reflects how the loss of Cassio’s reputation and occupation has physically affected his humanity and worth. ‘What remains is bestial,’
‘I will beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me.’
- After ‘honest’ Iago’s suggestion, Cassio plans to seek out Desdemona in efforts to get his job bacl, unaware Iago intends to frame him and Desdemona for infidelity. Which ultimately leads to the death of Desdemona at the hands of Othello, the pinnacle of the tragedy within the play.
‘Good night, honest Iago.’
- Dramatic Irony.
- Demonstrates Cassio’s blindness.
‘I never knew a Florentine more kind and honest.’
‘Whatever shall become of Micheal Cassio, He’s never anything but your true servant.”
‘That I being absent and my place supplied, My general will forget my love and service.’
- Cassio fears that Othello will forget
- Dependance on reputation.
‘Sweet Bianca,’
- ‘Sweet Desdemona,’
‘Go to, woman! Throw your vile guesses in the devil’s teeth.’
- Cassio displays cruelty toward Bianca, who is a prositute, demonstraing that he may not be as virtuous as he seems.
‘I do attend here on the genera; And think it no addition, nor my wish, To have him see me womaned.’
- Cassio pioritises his occupation over Bianca and love.
