CHARACTER quotes

Question 1

OTHELLO: “My parts, my title and my perfect soul/ Shall manifest me rightly” (A1, S2, 31)

Answer 1

• repetition of personal pronoun highlights his confidence, reflecting his excessive trust in his reputation that has has gained
• the referenced parts of him go deeper than body, but to a metaphysical level, emphasising his supposed intelligence
• first view of his hubris: egotistical arrogance, viewing himself in a high manner
• “tragically pathetic” (Leavis) in his self-centred responses

Question 2

OTHELLO: “Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them” (A1, S2, 58)

Answer 2

• calm, authoritative tone demonstrates his power in the commanding role, as he is a well respected general, and shows he is not easily intimidated
• sarcastic statement, highlighting his sense of humour to de-escalate the situation
• eloquence of language paints him as a strong character, able to use his words in an intelligent manner
• “the actor as inseparably the man of action”

Question 3

BRABANTIO: “foul thief”, “thou hast enchanted her”, “a practiser of arts inhibited and out of warrant” (A1, S2, 61+)

Answer 3

• in response to finding out of his daughter and Othello’s secret marriage, Brabantio is furious- clearly depicted through his hurtful, borderline prejudicial language to Othello
• direct insult of him being a “foul thief” implies Othello is viewed as such purely due to his difference in rank and background compared to Desdemona: he is a Black man who has rised in the hierarchy
• belief of Othello to have used sorcery to bewitch Desdemona emphasises the racist beliefs of Renaissance-era, as Brabantio cannot see any other reason for her to have married him, unless against her will

Question 4

COUNCIL: “valiant Moor” “valiant Othello” (A1, S3. 47+)

Answer 4

• clear juxtaposition to his described self earlier from Brabantio, and due to the strong adjective of how he is “valiant” being repeated
• shows Othello to be a positive impact on who he serves, and his skills in the military, in his work of commanding, has proved to gain him a noble reputation- meaning Othello was right in his confidence from before, that he is viewed as a respectable man despite his race

Question 6

IAGO: “your daughter covered with a Barbary horse”
“making the beast with two backs” (A1, S1, 110+)

Answer 6

• repeated use of animalistic comparisons to describe the Othello and Desdemona’s relationship in a crude, vulgar way continue to provoke Brabantio to confront Othello just as he plans
• the carnal imagery is explicitly sexualised to the point of disgust, in order to exaggerate his point of how wrong their marriage is, which reveals how twisted his mind is, to say such offensive phrases to succeed in his scheme of revenge
• “essential sadism” (Honigmann) is clear through his repeated ridiculing of the couple, damaging their reputation as people to Desdemona’s father

Question 7

IAGO: “I know my price: I am worth no worse a place (A1, S1, 11)

Answer 7

• introduced as one of the first characters of the play, Iago is initially presented to be self-aware of his ambition, his confidence is reflected through his imperatives that he “know(s)” what he is “worth”, also highlighting his jealousy around Cassio being appointed as Othello’s lieutenant over himself, he thinks he is more worthy
• audience can see the starting point of resentment for the man he serves, which could be considered how his villain arc begins (at least through justification)
• use of caesura “:” slows down his monologue in a dramatic manner, adding to his villainous character look and foreshadows the threat he will impose throughout the play

Question 8

IAGO: “But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve/ For daws to peck at. I am not what I am.” (A1, S1, 64)

Answer 8

• depicition of his deceitful nature, his two-faced persona that Iago ends up using throughout the play in order to manipulate the narrative and the characters around him
• metaphor essentially means that he will not be true with his intentions or feelings, but pretend to show that he is trustworthy, as exposing what he wants would jeopardise his scheme for revenge against Othello
• “he is anything but straightforward” (Honigmann)

Question 9

IAGO: “an old black ram/ Is tupping your white ewe!” (A1, S1, 89)

Answer 9

• prejudicial metaphor of Othello and Desdemona’s relationship to imply that it is unnatural that they are together
• euphenism of “tupping” is used to further Brabantio’s concern of the situation, hence Iago is successfully pushing the narrative further
• racial imagery dehumanises both O and D through the explictly mentioned colours, highlighting Iago’s racial prejudice that he is vocal about