Othello quotes act 3

IAGO O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on; (3.3.195-197) Iago’s pretty good at manipulating Othello, don’t you think? Here, he pretends to warn Othello not to be a jealous man, pointing out that jealousy ends up destroying the heart of the man who falls prey to it.
OTHELLO Why, why is this? Think’st thou I’d make a life of jealousy, To follow still the changes of the moon With fresh suspicions? No. To be once in doubt Is once to be resolved. Exchange me for a goat, When I shall turn the business of my soul To such exsufflicate and blown surmises, Matching thy inference. ‘Tis not to make me jealous To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company, Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances well. Where virtue is, these are more virtuous. Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt, For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago; I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; And on the proof, there is no more but this: Away at once with love or jealousy. (3.3.207-223) Here, Othello claims that he won’t be destroyed by jealousy. He reasons that Desdemona “had eyes, and chose [him]” despite, presumably, the fact that he is black. But, then, Othello lets slip that he may in fact be a bit more jealous and suspicious of his wife than he lets on – he says he wants some “proof” of Desdemona’s infidelity. Looks like Iago’s master plan may work out after all.
AGO Trifles light as air Are to the jealous confirmations strong As proofs of holy writ. This may do something. (3.3.370-372) Iago realizes that real proof of Desdemona’s supposed infidelity is not necessary because mere suspicion is enough to feed Othello’s jealousy. In the case of Othello, Iago will use the handkerchief Othello gave Desdemona in order to convince Othello that Desdemona’s been cheating.
IAGO The Moor already changes with my poison; Dangerous conceits are in their natures poisons, Which at the first are scarce found to distaste, But with a little act upon the blood Burn like the mines of Sulphur. Enter Othello. I did say so. Look, where he comes. Not poppy, nor mandragora Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep Which thou owedst yesterday. (3.3.373-382) Iago realizes the unbelievable power of jealousy. Here, he claims that he has poisoned Othello’s mind by suggesting Desdemona may be up to something naughty. Because Iago has succeeded in making Othello suspicious, Othello will never, ever have a good night of sleep again, not even if he used the best sleeping medicine in the world.
IAGO She did deceive her father, marrying you, […] OTHELLO And so she did. (3.3.238; 241) When Iago wants to make Othello suspect Desdemona’s been unfaithful, he suggests a woman who disobeys and “deceive[s] her father is likely to screw around on her husband.
IAGO Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio; Wear your eye thus, not jealous nor secure. I would not have your free and noble nature, Out of self-bounty, be abused. Look to ‘t. I know our country disposition well; In Venice they do let God see the pranks They dare not show their husbands. Their best conscience Is not to leave ‘t undone, but keep ‘t unknown. (3.3.228-236) Iago claims that Venetian women can’t be trusted because they all deceive their husbands with their secret “pranks.” This seems to be the dominant attitude in the play,
OTHELLO I had been happy, if the general camp, Pioners and all, had tasted her sweet body, So I had nothing known. O, now, for ever Farewell the tranquil mind! Farewell content! Farewell the plumed troop, and the big wars That make ambition virtue! O, farewell! Farewell the neighing steed and the shrill trump, The spirit-stirring drum, th’ ear-piercing fife, The royal banner, and all quality, Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war! And O you mortal engines, whose rude throats The immortal Jove’s dead clamors counterfeit, Farewell! Othello’s occupation’s gone! (3.3.397-409) I would’ve been happy if the whole army had had sex with her, the lowest-ranking grunts and all, as long as I didn’t know anything about it. Oh, goodbye to my peace of mind! Goodbye to my happiness! Goodbye to the soldiers and to the wars that make men great! Goodbye! Goodbye to the horses and the trumpets and the drums, the flute and the splendid banners, and all those proud displays and pageantry of war! And you deadly cannons that roar like thunderbolts thrown by the gods, goodbye! Othello’s career is over. Because Othello (mistakenly) believes Desdemona has cheated on him, Othello feels like he can’t be a soldier any more. All the manly, warlike things – military music, thrusting cannons, and big wars – are denied him; he is convinced that he has lost his masculine, soldier identity.
OTHELLO What dost thou say, Iago? IAGO Did Michael Cassio, When you woo’d my lady, know of your love? OTHELLO He did, from first to last: why dost thou ask? IAGO But for a satisfaction of my thought, No further harm. OTHELLO Why of thy thought, Iago? IAGO I did not think he had been acquainted with her. OTHELLO O yes, and went between us very oft. IAGO Indeed? OTHELLO Indeed? Ay, indeed! Discern’st thou aught in that? Is he not honest? (3.3.104-115) This is where Iago plants the seeds of doubt in Othello’s mind. Iago suggests that Cassio, who often acted as a go-between when Othello was wooing Desdemona, “went between” Othello and his girl in more ways than one, wink, wink. Iago doesn’t come right out and say that Cassio and Desdemona have been sneaking around
OTHELLO Give me a living reason she’s disloyal. IAGO I do not like the office, But sith I am entered in this cause so far, Pricked to ‘t by foolish honesty and love, I will go on. I lay with Cassio lately, And, being troubled with a raging tooth I could not sleep. There are a kind of men So loose of soul, that in their sleeps will mutter their affairs. One of this kind is Cassio. In sleep I heard him say ‘Sweet Desdemona, Let us be wary, let us hide our loves.’ And then, sir, would he gripe and wring my hand, Cry ‘O sweet creature!’ then kiss me hard, As if he pluck’d up kisses by the roots That grew upon my lips; then laid his leg Over my thigh, and sighed, and kissed; and then Cried ‘Cursed fate that gave thee to the Moor!’ OTHELLO O monstrous! Monstrous! (3.3.467-483) When Othello asks for “living reason” (proof) that Desdemona’s been “disloyal,” Iago tells him about a sexy dream that Cassio supposedly had one night while he was lying in bed next to Iago (presumably, at an army camp). According to Iago, Cassio talked in his sleep while having a naughty dream about Desdemona. Not only that, but Cassio also grabbed Iago, wrapped his leg over his thigh, and made out with him (all while dreaming about Desdemona).
IAGO Ha! I like not that. OTHELLO What dost thou say? IAGO Nothing, my lord; or if—I know not what. OTHELLO Was not that Cassio parted from my wife? IAGO Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it That he would steal away so guiltylike, Seeing you coming. OTHELLO I do believe ’twas he. (3.3.37-44) After watching Desdemona and Cassio chit-chat from afar, Iago suggests that something naughty is going on between Cassio and Othello’s wife. He never comes right out and says, “Hey Othello, look at your wife flirt with Cassio,”