Othello Quotes Part 2

Before we even meet Othello in the play we are led to believe by Iago that Othello is professionally bombastic and proud as well as personally lascivious. “he, as loving…” “he, as loving in his own pride and purposes,/Evades them with a bombast circumstance”
Othello is continually subject to racist remarks throughout Othello, the first coming from Roderigo. “What a full…” “What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe”
The imagery associated with jealousy in the play perhaps suggests the destructive, terrifying and unnatural qualities of this emotion. Jealousy is the “green eyed…” “green eyed monster, which doth mock/The meat is feeds on”
The sense of devouring the emotion of Jealousy brings fits in well with Iago’s description of Othello as being “EUWP” “eaten up with passion”
Despite Coleridge’s opinion that Iago’s “motivelessly malignant” his villainy early on seems to have a clear motive for causing Othello harm. “Preferment goes by…” “Preferment goes by preferment and affection/And not by the old graduation”
In Act III, Scene 4 Othello asks to inspect Desdemona’s hand. This is significant as it shows the beginning of his interrogation. “Give me your…”. It could also be said that Othello’s reading her palm- a link to pagan ancestry suggesting Othello is moving away from the christian values he adopted. Also foreshadows that Othello will kill Desdemona with his hands. “Give me your hand. This hand is moist, my lady.”
Iago torments Othello about the handkerchief. Othello wishes he could forget it: “O, it comes o’er…” The plague reference reminds us that Iago is still infecting Othello with poison. The disrupted sentence structure (syntax) alo suggests his mind is being acted upon and that he is not in control of his own thoughts. Ravens were thought to be the birds of ill-omen too. “O, it come o’er my memory/As doth the raven o’er the infectious house”
Emilia chastises Othello for believing Desdemona is false. She says “Remove your…” Emilia’s disapproval reminds us how far Othello has fallen. Ironically, Emilia does not realise Othello’s thoughts have been abused by Iago. “Remove your thought, it doth abuse your bosom”
Roderigo is first to recognise Iago’s villainy. His dying words “O damned…” Iago has used animal imagery to his own advantage and is now recognised as a villain using similar language. Imagery of dogs remind us of how Iago’s inhumanity has dehumanised Othello. Ironically Roderigo sees the truth too late, just like Othello “O damned Iago! O inhuman dog!”
Othello is proud of his career and character. He says “My parts, my title…” Othello defends his character. He feels that he is a worthy husband for Desdemona. Some critics believe Othello’s downfall is due to his sin of pride. Hubris, excessive pride? “My parts, my title and my perfect soul/Shall manifest me rightly”
Comparing Othello’s positive imagery to how he describes himself at the start, you can see how much he has fallen by the end where he compares himself to a “BI” and “CD” “base indian” and “circumcised dog”
Desdemona defends her own honour throughout the play, shown when she says to Othello “By heaven…”. Desdemona is still brave and assertive, even when Othello attacks her verbally and physically. The reference to heaven reinforces Desdemona’s virtue. Also another example of irony and foreshadowing, Othello will refer to Heaven before he murders desdemona. “By Heaven, you do me wrong”
Desdemona loves Othello to the bitter end. Her final words are “Commend me…” “Commend me to my kind lord – O, farewell!”
For Othello there is two Desdemona’s. She is firstly his “SJ” and secondly becomes “that cunning…” “soul’s joy” and “that cunning ***** of venice”
Desdemona is Iago’s true victim and source of treachery. His intention is to “Out of her own goodness…” It also illustrates the contempt Iago has for what is innocent and pure in this world. “Out of her own goodness make the net/That shall enmesh them all”
Cassio’s obsession with his reputation mirrors Othello’s obsession. Cassio’s sorrow over losing his professiong foreshadows Othello’s misery when he thinks that he is lost Desdemona. “O, I have lost my…” The reference to being “bestial” foreshadows Othello’s downfall. “O, I have lost my reputation, I have lost the immortal part of myself- and what remains is bestial.”
Emilia say “jealous souls…are not ever…” These lines describe Iago’s Jealousy; he takes revenge on Cassio and Othello without genuine “cause”. These words suggest Othello’s jealousy will feed itself. It is ironic that Emilia the expert on Jealousy cannot see her own husband’s villainy. “jealous souls…are not ever jealous for the cause, [jealousy] is a monster/Begot upon itself, born on itself”
Emilia has a disillusioned view of marriage. “Tis not a year or two…” These words remind us that female characters are powerless in Othello, they are “food” for men. Emilia’s cynical comments undermine the romance of the marriage of Desdemona and Othello. Emilia reminds the audience of the importance of not judging by first impressions and appearances. “Tis not a year or two shows us a man./They are all stomach, and we all but food”
Desdemona views Othello’s origins positively. When asked if Othello is jealous she praises her husband’s character. “I think sun…”. Desdemona’s positive view of her husband’s race provides clear contrast with the the negative Renaissance racial stereotype of Othello. Ironically, Desdemona is wrong about Othello, he does become jealous, although Shakespeare does not suggest Othello has a propensity to jealousy because he is black. “I think the sun where he was born/Drew all such humours from him”
August 6, 2019