Summary
Summary Othello Key Quotes Edexcel A level
- Module
- Unit 1 - Drama
- Institution
- PEARSON (PEARSON)
Detailed analysis of key quotes for Othello. Perfect revision for Paper 1 English Literature!!!!
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Othello - ShakespeareA Scene Quote Character Method Explanation
c Extra Information
t Context
Act One, Scene One Background notes:
Iago – Machiavellian; ‘The ends justify the means’.
Staging – Night. (Staging itself is a metaphor - essentially the characters are in the dark about Iago’s ulterior motives).
Iago – shown at night: associates the villain with darkness. Iago – devilish figure, anti-Christ.
Iago – duplicitous, cunning – keeps the other characters in the dark. Roderigo is duped and is in the dark about Iago’s ulterior motives.
1 1 ‘Iago, who hadst my purse As if the Roderigo Metaphor => Gives imagery of Iago as a puppet master pulling at a ‘string’.
strings were thine...’ talking to => Iago is using Roderigo’s money as if it’s his.
Iago => Iago is financially manipulating Roderigo through his love for Desdemona.
=> Roderigo believes that Iago can help him win Desdemona over.
Iago is Roderigo’s opposite – He is self-possessed, cynical and smart.
Roderigo is being used for his money by Iago
1 1 ‘loving his own pride and purposes’ Iago talking => Iago believes Othello to be arrogant as he deliberately overlooked Iago when
of Othello appointing an officer. His views are clouded by jealousy.
Iago paints a picture of Othello as prideful and not willing to listen. Contradicted in Act
1, Scene Two where Othello is seen to be noble and dignified.
1 1 ‘I have already chose my officer’ Iago talking => Othello chooses Michael Cassio as lieutenant over Iago.
of Othello => Iago is jealous since his pride is wounded.
The first motivation, that we see, for Iago’s hatred for Othello.
1 1 ‘Michael Cassio... that never set a Iago talking => Iago believes Michael Cassio is inexperienced. He is useless in Iago’s eyes.
squadron in the field’ of Michael Iago despises Cassio because, in his view, Cassio is not a real soldier and is merely
Cassio someone who knows the theory of war.
1 1 ‘his Moorship’s ancient’ Iago talking => Iago has been given the job of a flagbearer rather than lieutenant.
of his => Iago is offended that Cassio has been given a higher rank than himself.
position
1 1 ‘much like his master’s ass’ Iago’s => Iago considers it a waste of time being duteous.
opinion on
duty
1 1 ‘Whip me such honest knaves’ Iago’s => Iago believes that honesty deserves whipping.
opinion on Iago shows contempt for those who are honest and honourable. This gives us an insight
honesty into Iago’s true character.
1 1 ‘In following him, I follow but myself’ Insight into => Iago is admitting that he follows Othello for his own advantage.
Iago’s => ‘I’ gives the impression that he is his own person. Everything he does is for himself.
character He is proud of being self-absorbed. Roderigo, however, believes that this doesn’t apply
to him.
This serves to establish Iago’s character and show what a manipulative individual he is.
1 1 ‘I am not what I am’ Insight into Biblical => Subverts the Bible to suit his own wants and desires. Originally - ‘I am that I am’. In
Iago’s Reference the book of Exodus in the Old Testament – God gives his laws to Moses on Mt. Sinai, and
character Moses asks God his name. God replies, ‘I am who I am’ (Exodus 3:14).
=> Gives the impression that Iago is an anti-Christ figure.
=> He is not what he is, which shows that he prides himself on being deceptive. He
takes pride in his own duplicity.
If ‘I am that I am’ stands for God, then Iago’s self-description, ‘I am not what I am’
implies that he is closer to the Devil.
1 1 ‘Call up her father... plague him with Iago’s initial Satanic => Iago is disturbing the peace of Venice and breaking the harmony. He is seen as a
flies’ plot of Imagery symbol of chaos and destruction.
revenge. => Iago can be seen as an image of Satan as he is thriving on disharmony and
Symbolism darkness.
, => ‘plague’ - suggests ruin, decay, disease. Iago wants to destroy Brabantio’s
Beelzebub happiness.
Imagery => ‘flies’ - Beelzebub imagery as flies are attracted to decay.
Introduces the idea of poison, which recurs often in the play.
1 1 ‘an old black ram is tupping your Iago talking Metaphor => ‘old black ram’ - Othello; ‘white ewe’ - Desdemona. Iago is portraying a sexual
white ewe’ of Othello & relationship to Brabantio whereby he is making it out as if Othello had sex with
Desdemona Derogatory Desdemona against her will. Making it out as if she had no agency in their relationship.
Imagery Iago – crude and vulgar language that is full of sexual innuendo and bestial imagery.
=> Iago is reducing their love to lust as he compares their sexual union to animals
rutting.
=> Idea that Othello tainted and blemished Desdemona’s purity.
=> Iago plays on the Jacobean stereotypes – black men were lascivious. He is
deliberately causing outrage.
=> ‘black’ - Iago talks of Othello as if he is a stain. Makes it out as if Othello is staining
Desdemona’s reputation. The colour is impure and normally associated with the devil.
He is using racial stereotypes to support his machinations.
=> Iago is suggesting that Othello went against the Chain of Being by having a
relationship with Desdemona. Othello has tuppled the Status Quo by having a
relationship with a white upper-class woman while being a black foreigner and so Iago is
using this to his advantage. Iago immediately establishes that he believes Othello to be
inferior.
Comparison between Othello’s early speeches (high-minded epic and heroic) to Iago’s
(often base, vulgar, sexual).
1 1 ‘This is Venice; My house is not a Brabantio to => Brabantio is a Senator, an important man in Venice. He is showing his pride in being
grange’ Iago and a Venetian – a civilised place where the law is upheld.
Roderigo => Possible derogatory imagery regarding Othello being a black man - seen as animal-
like by those in the Jacobean society.
1 1 ‘Your daughter and the Moor are Iago to Bestial => Iago intentionally debases the relationship of Desdemona and Othello in order to
now making the beast with two Brabantio Imagery play into the Jacobean stereotypes of Black men being lascivious.
backs’ Crude, animalistic imagery designed to infuriate Brabantio.
A Scene Quote Character Method Explanation
c Extra Information
t Context
Act One, Scene Two Background notes:
Othello is presented in an elevated and exceptional position. While Iago orchestrates chaos, Othello is ready to resolve things in a peaceful way.
Iago – presented as an instrument of chaos, disharmony and hatred.
Othello – presented as an instrument of harmony, peace, serenity.
Othello’s mannerism – calm and collected. Iago – hides in the shadows.
Othello: His language is placatory.
1 2 ‘But, I pray you, sir, Are you fast Iago => Iago is questioning Othello and Desdemona’s marriage. Essentially, he is trying to
married?‘ questioning wind up Othello in order to get a reaction out of him.
Othello about Marriages were not considered valid (until the 21st century) unless they were
his marriage consummated. Iago – intruding for his own personal gain.
1 2 ‘My services which I have done... Othello => Reference to his ‘services’ - shows that his position gives him a sense of calmness in
shall out-tongue his complaints... talking of the hysteric atmosphere. He is aware that his services should overpower Brabantio’s
From men of royal siege... I love what he grief.
the gentle Desdemona' prides himself => Reference to the ‘royal siege’ - shows Othello is talking of his lineage -->
on emphasises the confidence he has in his roots. Heroes of tragedies were meant to be
men of ‘high estate’ - nobles or royals. Othello may have descended from African
royalty but this means nothing in Venice.
=> Reference to his ‘love’ - shows that he is confident in his love for Desdemona.
=> Othello is confident but not arrogant – Shakespeare is elevating his position.
, 1 2 ‘My parts, my title and my perfect Othello Iambic => He believes his ‘title’ of General, his lineage and his moral character will assist him
soul’ talking to Iago Pentameter in confronting Brabantio.
about his self- / => Shows that he has nothing to hide from Brabantio.
confidence Blank => ‘perfect soul’ - shows that Othello is proud of his integrity and unblemished
Verse character.
=> Iambic pentameter/ Blank verse:
~ Elevates Othello in the eyes of the Jacobean audience.
~ Jacobean audience may see Othello’s pride as arrogance or hubristic.
~ Shakespeare wants the audience to see Othello’s pride as rightful and justified.
Othello is dignified and certain his role as general will speak for him. He is not willing to
hide away like a criminal, which Iago would prefer.
1 2 ‘By Janus’ Iago talking to Dramatic => Janus = Roman God with 2 faces.
Othello Irony => As the audience, we know that Iago is 2 faced; Othello does not.
1 2 ‘Keep up your bright swords, for Othello Biblical => ‘bright’ - Image of light. Othello’s language is placatory. The character of Othello is
the dew will rust them... Good talking to Reference associated with peace and light.
signior’ Brabantio and => ‘bright’ contrasts Othello with Iago who hides in the shadows.
the officers Contrasting => Othello is confident in himself as he has nothing to hide. He is also rightfully proud
Imagery of his position.
=> Biblical reference – Othello = Christ-like figure; Iago = Judas.
~ Othello’s words echo Christ’s words from the Bible when Christ was being betrayed by
Subtle Judas; Similarly, Othello is being betrayed by Iago.
sarcasm => ‘Good signior’ - shows Othello greeting Brabantio formally, calmly and respectfully.
Reinforces the idea that Othello is an instrument of harmony and peace – Contrast to
Iago who is an image of chaos and disharmony.
The ‘music of Othello’ - Hero calming an angry crowd, with a tone of non-violence and
control. This contrasts with his characterisations at the end of the play.
Subtle sarcasm – Othello and his men = soldiers; Brabantio’s men = policemen and
civilians = no match for Othello’s soldiers.
1 2 ‘thou hast practised on her with foul Brabantio to => Mirrors Jacobean stereotype that black men were perpetrators of Black magic. He is
charms’ Othello accusing Othello of practicing black magic on Desdemona. Relationship between a white
woman and a black man = unacceptable in Jacobean society.
Brabantio is unwilling to accept the fact that his daughter could have chosen to marry a
black man willingly.
A Scene Quote Character Method Explanation
c Extra Information
t Context
Act One, Scene Three Background notes:
Othello’s position remains elevated. The Duke, being a White man, gives Othello, a black man, the opportunity to voice his opinions on his relationship with Othello and
Desdemona.
Brabantio plays on the Jacobean stereotypes of Black men – Jacobean audience would be familiar with the stereotypes.
The Duke gives a voice to Othello and Desdemona.
Iago’s soliloquy – he gets his plans together aloud – makes the audience complicit in his plot as we watch his machinations unfold.
1 3 ‘a Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Senators Dramatic => Venice and Turkey are enemies. Ottoman Empire = enemies with the Venetian
Cyprus’ telling the Irony army.
Duke of the => Senators – trying to work out where to intercept the Turkish fleet.
enemies => The Duke see through the Turkish fleet but they can’t see through the deceit of the
enemy in their midst.
=> The Turkish are trying to deceive the Venetians, and the Venetians are aware of
this, but they are unable to see through Iago’s machinations.
Duke is the leader of the Republic of Venice.
1 3 ‘Valiant Othello’ Duke talking Image of => Duke is continuing to elevate Othello’s position. Othello is considered as brave.
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