| “I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter / and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs.” | Iago stirs up trouble between Brabantio and Othello. His crude euphemistic metaphor highlights Iago’s crassness and his desire to harm those above him in society. |
| “Men should be what they seem; / Or those that be not, would they might seem none!” | Iago warns Othello about men who are not what they appear. Othello believes Iago speaks of Michael Cassio of not being what he seems. In reality, he speaks of himself. This is irony (verbal and dramatic). |
| This honest creature doubtless / Sees and knows more, much more than he unfolds.” | Yet another example of irony, this time dramatic. Iago does know much more than he unfolds. Othello thinks he knows more about Desdemona and Cassio’s affair, but what he really knows is there is no affair. Iago knows human nature and how to manipulate it. Othello referring to Iago as an “honest creature” is also ironic. |
| “O, beware, my lord of jealousy; / It is the green-ey’d monster which doth mock / The meat it feeds on.” | The ironic thing about Iago’s advice to Othello is its soundness. He’s one of Shakespeare’s many characters who gives sound advice, yet goes against it. Not only does Iago goad Othello to jealousy, he himself is jealous and resentful of the success of others. Calling jealousy a “green-eyed monster” is a metaphor full of imagery. Picture a green-eyed monster gnawing your spleen as it calls you names. That’s jealousy. |
| I hate the Moor,And it is thought abroad, that ‘twixt my sheets’Has done my office. I know not if ‘t be true,But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,Will do as if for surety. | Now this is interesting. Earlier, Iago said he hates Othello because “the Moor” passed him over for a promotion. Yet, here, Iago says he hates Othello because he’s heard a rumor that Othello has been hooking up with Iago’s wife, Emilia, “twixt [Iago’s] sheets.” Iago says he doesn’t exactly know if the rumor’s true, but he’s decided to go ahead and ruin Othello’s life anyway. |
| “Thus do I ever make my fool my purse.” | Iago has succeeded in deceiving Roderigo into making as much money as possible in order to win Desdemona. |
| ” Look to your wife, observe her well with Cassio. “ | Iago places the idea of Desdemona being unfaithful with Cassio in Othello’s mind. |
| “She deceived her father by marrying you.” | Iago is a crafty manipulator. He definitely causes Othello to question Desdemona’s integrity. At the same time, Iago assures Othello that he has only discredited Desdemona because of his love for Othello |
Othello Quote Cards
July 8, 2019