Summary
Summary A* 'Othello' Key Quotes & Analysis
Key quotes and analysis for the whole of 'Othello' - targeted towards AQA A level English Literature B Tragedy Paper 1
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Othello QuotesAct 1
“His Moorship’s ancient” - Iago Sarcastic reference to Othello – looking for an opportunity to ridicule
Othello
“I follow him to serve my turn Highlights Iago’s duplicity from the beginning of the play
upon him” - Iago
“I am not what I am” – Iago Parodying Exodus (Bible), God says “I am that I am”. Juxtaposes himself
against God/ Admits his dishonesty and manipulation with a declarative
sentence
“Thieves, thieves, thieves!” – Othello has stolen something, Desdemona is objectified. Iago creates
Iago hysteria and deliberately uses language to produce an effect on other.
“An old black ram is tupping Positions Othello as dangerous, Brabantio becomes concerned. Colour
your white ewe” - Iago imagery suggests that Othello is corrupting the innocent Desdemona.
“the devil” – Iago about Othello Reference to Othello, uses colour to represent Othello as other – the
devil was traditionally coloured as black
“ ‘Tis better as it is” - Othello Othello has previously been described as barbaric and immoral, but his
first words are calm, contrasting this
“the magnifico is much beloved” Iago tries to manipulate Othello into panicking about how respected
- Iago and powerful Brabantio is. Creates dramatic irony as the audience is
aware that Iago is trying to warn Othello of a threat he created himself
“I love the gentle Desdemona” - Clear, emphatic expression of love
Othello
“My parts, my title and my Repetition of personal pronoun shows that he is self-assured and noble.
perfect soul” - Othello The adjective “perfect” shows that, like Iago, Othello also has an ego
which later contributes to his hamartia
“By Janus” - Iago Iago swears his loyalty on the Roman god of 2 faces – highlights his
duplicity
“Keep up your bright swords” – Imperative sentence diffuses situation, authoritative
Othello
“she is abused, stol’n from me, Context – Brabantio’s conviction that Desdemona has acted under the
and corrupted by spells” - influence of black magic is partly because he doesn’t want to be
Brabantio humiliated by his daughter marrying against his will, but is also based
on racist ideas against Othello’s blackness. “stol’n” – objectifies
Desdemona
“Rude am I in my speech” - Othello appears humble but it is a false modesty, which lowers
Othello expectations and then makes him sound better when he speaks well.
Manipulation tactic
“Her father loved me; oft invited Shows the hypocrisy of Brabantio refusing the marriage. It is clearly a
me” - Othello decision based on race, rather than Othello’s status, which is
appropriate for marriage to Desdemona
“Wherein I spake of most Structure – the relationship is shown to be born from tragedy – the
disastrous chances” - Othello tragic, disastrous life story of Othello. This foreshadows the tragic
ending
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