Othello Key Quotes: Deception And Manipulation Flashcards
‘I follow him to serve my turn upon him,’
- The first declaration of Iago’s motives
- Makes the audience complicit.
- Iago ultimately plans to betray Othello.
‘I am not what I am,’
- Highlights Iago’s duplicitious nature.
- Biblical allusion: ‘I am what I am.’
- Iago opposes christianity and heaven therefore making him pure evil.
‘Pour this pestilence into his ear’
- Imagery of death. -> Cataphoric reference.
- Poison in the ear.
‘I like not that!’
- Dialogue which plants the seed of doubt in Othello’s mind, poisoning his image of the ‘Divine Desdemona’.
‘Were I the Moor, I would no be Iago; In following him, I follow but myself.’
- Cryptic manner of speech which reveals as much as it obscures Iago’s true motivations.
- Iago is not following the Moor out of love but instead to betray him.
‘These Moors are changeable in their wills,’
- Stereotype that Black people are less assured and thus more likely to change their mind than a white person.
- Iago intends to exploit Othello’s weaknesses, e.g. his skin colour and otherness.
‘Thus do I ever make my fool my purse;’
- Iago revels in Roderigo’s stupidity.
- Iago positioned as the master puppeter of the action of the play.
‘With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio.’
- Metaphor
- Iago sees his chance for revenge in the behaviour of Cassio. Even though, he is acting according to the etiquette of Venitian polite society, Iago manipulates the action, creating a more sinister and lavicious side to his actions.
- Web Imagery; Iago paints himself as the dangerous spider who plans to trap his prey in an invisible trap.
‘Our general’s wife is now the general,’
- Iago is very aware of the influence Desdemona has over Othello and intends to manipulate it to his favour.
‘Men should be what they seem,’
- Opposes ‘I am not what I am,’
‘This honest creature doubtless Sees and knows more , much more, than he unfolds.’
About Iago
- Othello marvels at how Iago seems to know all and takes his knowledge as being credible and true.
‘sir, he would gripe and wring my hand, Cry ‘O sweet creature!’ and then kiss me hard […] laid his leg Over my thigh, and sighed, and kissed, and then cried’ Cursed fate that gave thee to the Moor.’
- Iago lies to Othello about Cassio.
- Iago claims that, in his sleep, Cassio kissed him and then straddled him, believing he was Desdemona.
‘So will I turn her virtue into pitch.’
- Iago will poison Desdemona’s virtuous nature and innocent so that Othello can no longer trust her.
- Desdemona’s willingness to assist Cassio will be misconstrued.
‘Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio; Wear your eyes thus: not jealous nor secure.’
- Crucial suggestion to Iago’s plan.
- Having instructed Cassio to appeal to Desdemona’s good nature previously, Iago will give Othell countless oppotunities to see them together.
- Desdemona’s appeals on behalf of Cassio will also take on a new meaning in the eyes of Othello.
- Iago’s control of this conversation ha been total. Thus, he can now openly suggest the idea of Cassio and Desdemona, knowing that Othello has come up with it himself. Iago now has control of Othello’s actions.
