Love and Possession Quotes

Question 1

‘She loved me for the dangers I had passed…’ - Oth (1.3)

Answer 1

Love is built on storytelling and admiration - possibly superficial and lacks depth or solidarity

Question 2

‘My life upon her faith!’ - Oth (1.3)

Answer 2

His confident declaration of trust foreshadows his eventual doubt and downfall

Question 3

‘Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul / But I do love thee!’ - Oth (3.3)

Answer 3

Paradoxical - love and destruction intertwined

Question 4

‘O curse of marriage, / That we can call these delicate creatures ours, / And not their appetites!’ - Oth (3.3)

Answer 4

He confuses love with ownership - a patriarchal anxiety

Question 5

‘I took you for that cunning whore of Venice’ - Oth (4.2)

Answer 5

His accusation is rooted in betrayal of love - jealousy erodes trust

Question 6

‘O my fair warrior!’ / ‘My dear Othello!’
- Oth/Des (2.1)

Answer 6

Mutual admiration - idealistic, equal, romantic love early on

Question 7

‘Then must you speak / Of one that loved not wisely but too well’ - Oth (5.2)

Answer 7

His final self image - romanticises his fatal passion, too trusting
Perhaps his actions were actually directed to protecting his reputation, in his eyes it was an ‘honor killing’

Question 8

‘I do perceive here a divided duty’ - Des (1.3)

Answer 8

She is torn between father and her husband
(context of expectations of daughters)