| Identify the speaker, context and significance of each quotation. | … |
| 1.1 | … |
| He, in good time, must his lieutenant be, And I, God bless the mark, his Moorship’s ancient. | Iago, talking about Othello. He is taking mention of Othello’s race and color. – “Iago shows his obsession with Othello’s race and colour.” |
| Ancient | The flagbearer/Ensign |
| Straight satisfy yourself. If she be in her chamber or your house, Let loose on me the justice of the state For thus deluding you. | Roderigo, talking to Brabantio about Desdemona. Him and Iago are there to tell him that desdemona has run off with Othello, and that Othello has stolen her. |
| It is too true an evil. Gone she is,And what’s to come of my despised timeIs nought but bitterness. Now, Roderigo,Where didst thou see her? | Brabantio, asking if he knows where Desdemona is. He wants to find her and Othello because he wants Othello arrested. |
| 1.2 | … |
| O thou foul thief! Where hast thou stow’d my daughter? | Brabantio, speaking to Othello. He believes that Desdemona doesn’t actually love Othello, and he thinks that Othello possibly bewitched her in order to get her to love him. Brabantio wants Othello arrested for this. |
| My noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty:To you I am bound for life and education… But here’s my husband; | Desdemona at the trial, speaking to her father Brabantio. She is telling him that she is grateful to him, but she loves Othello and he is her husband. |
| A man he is of honesty and trust | Othello, saying that Iago is a man ‘of honesty and trust’.Iago is not actually what Othello thinks he is. |
| Put money in thy purse…. It cannot be that Desdemona should long continue her love to the Moor—put money in thy purse | Iago, telling Roderigo to save his money, and that Desdemona cannot continue loving Othello. He’s telling him to save money so that he possibly gets some, and they can carry out their plan. |
| The Moor is of a free and open nature,That thinks men honest that but seem to be so, And will as tenderly be led by the noseAs asses are. | Iago, speaking by himself. He is saying that Othello sees honesty in men, however Iago is backstabbing him. He’s saying that he can lead Othello around wherever he wants (like a donkey). He will do what Iago says. |
| 2.1 | … |
| News, friends; our wars are done; the Turks aredrown’d. | Othello, announcing that the turkish fleet has been destroyed – a storm wiped them out |
| Do you find some occasion to anger Cassio, | Iago, telling Roderigo that he should anger Cassio. |
| But partly led to diet my revenge, For that I do suspect the lusty Moor Hath leap’d into my seat, the thought whereof Doth like a poisonous mineral gnaw my inwards; And nothing can or shall content my soul Till I am even’d with him, wife for wife; | Iago, speaking about Othello. he suspects that Othello had some sort of affair with Emelia. |
| 2.3 | … |
| Good Michael, look you to the guard tonight. Let’s teach ourselves that honourable stop, Not to out-sport discretion. | Othello, telling Cassio that he needs to watch over everything |
| Give me to know How this foul rout began, who set it on, 195 And he that is approv’d in this offence,Though he had twinn’d with me, both at a birth, Shall lose me. | Othello, saying that whoever started the fight, even if they were his own twin brother, will be punished and lose his trust |
| Cassio, I love thee, But never more be officer of mine. | Othello, telling Cassio that he has been demoted. |
| I’ll tell you what you shall do… Confess yourself freely to her, importune her help to put you in your place again | Iago, telling Cassio to go talk to Desdemona to get his position back |
| I will beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me. | Cassio, saying that he will get Desdemona to help him. |
| And what’s he then that says I play the villain, | Iago, commenting on the bad things he does, that he is the villain |
| I’ll pour this pestilence into his ear: That she repeals him for her body’s lust; And by how much she strives to do him good, She shall undo her credit with the Moor. | Iago, saying that he’s going to tell Othello that Desdemona is helping Cassio because she loves him. She will lose her trust with him. |
| 3.1 | … |
| If the gentlewoman that attends the general’s wife be stirring, tell her there’s one Cassio entreats her a little favour of speech | Cassio, going to see Emelia so he can speak to Desdemona |
| 3.3 | … |
| Be thou assur’d, good Cassio, I will do All my abilities in thy behalf. | Desdemona, saying that she will help Cassio. |
| Assure thee If I do vow a friendship, I’ll perform it To the last article. My lord shall never rest, I’ll watch him tame and talk him out of patience; His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift; 25 I’ll intermingle every thing he does With Cassio’s suit. | Desdemona, saying how much she is going to work to to get Cassio’s job back. |
| Was not that Cassio parted from my wife? | Othello, starting to take suspicion to Cassio. |
| What dost thou think?… Show me thy thought…. I prithee speak to me as to thy thinkings… By heaven, I’ll know thy thoughts. | Othello, Wanting to know what Iago thinks of everything |
| O beware, my lord, of jealousy: It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on. | Iago, telling Othello to not get jealous. |
| 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! | Othello, saying that he’ll need proof before he’s convinced |
| She did deceive her father, marrying you | Iago, saying that desdemona deceived her father, so she’d probably do the same to him |
| This honest creature doubtless Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds. | Othello, about Iago, saying that he is honest. |
| I have a pain upon my forehead here. | Othello, referring indirectly to how Desdemona has cheated on him |
| I am glad I have found this napkin: | Emelia, having found the handkerchief |
| I will in Cassio’s lodging lose this napkin And let him find it. | Iago, saying that he will leave the handkerchief with cassio and let him find it |
| Trifles light as air Are to the jealous confirmations strong As proofs of holy writ. This may do something. 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. | Iago, saying that with the handkerchief, even though it’s not much, he will make Othello fully believe Desdemona has cheated on him. |
| O, now for ever Farewell the tranquil mind! | Othello, saying that |
| Villain, be sure thou prove my love a *****; Be sure of it. Give me the ocular proof, | Othello, saying that he needs visible proof. |
| 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: | Iago, saying that Cassio said things about Desdemona in his sleep. |
| Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell! | Othello, saying that he will have vengeance |
| Damn her, lewd minx! 0, damn her, damn her! Come, go with me apart. I will withdraw To furnish me with some swift means of death For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant. | Othello, saying that he’s going to kill her. He’s also saying that Iago is his lieutenant. |
| 3.4 | … |
| This hand is moist, my lady…This argues fruitfulness and liberal heart. | Othello, taking the moistness of Desdemona’s hand as evidence |
| —I have a salt and sorry rheum offends me; Lend me thy handkerchief…—I have it not about me. | Othello, asking Desdemona for the handkerchief, to prove that she doesn’t have it |
| That handkerchief Did an Egyptian to my mother give: She was a charmer and could almost read The thoughts of people. | Othello, saying he got it from his mother, meaning that it’s special to him |
| She dying gave it me, so And bid me when my fate would have me wive, To give it her. I did so, and take heed on’t: Make it a darling, like your precious eye. To lose’t or give’t away were such perdition As nothing else could match. | Othello, giving more info on the significance of the handkerchief. He makes it clear that Desdemona should not lose it. |
| Fetch’t, let me see’t……Fetch me the handkerchief. My mind misgives……The handkerchief!…The handkerchief!…Zounds! | Othello, freaking out over the handkerchief being missing. |
| Madam, my former suit. I do beseech you That, by your virtuous means, I may again Exist and be a member of his love, Entirely honour. I would not be delay’d. | Cassio, asking Desdemona to help him. |
| Alas, thrice-gentle Cassio, My advocation is not now in tune: My lord is not my lord. | Desdemona, saying that Othello isn’t himself right now |
| 4.1 | … |
| With her, on her, what you will. | Iago, implying that Cassio did sleep with Desdemona |
| My lord is fallen into an epilepsy. This is his second fit; he had one yesterday. | Iago, talking to Cassio about Othello |
| She gives it out that you shall marry her. Do you intend it? | Iago, to Cassio, talking about Bianca – Othello can hear this and thinks he’s talking about Desdemona |
| Do it not with poison; strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated. | othello decides to kill her – Iago is telling him how to |
| She gave it to him, and he hath given it his wh*re. | Iago to Othello, seeing Bianca with the handkerchief |
| 4.2 | … |
| Upon my knees, what doth your speech import? I understand a fury in your words, But not the words. | Desdemona, to Othello, when he accuses her |
| Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell. | Othello, talking to Desdemona |
| Prithee tonight Lay on my bed my wedding sheets, remember | Desdemona, speaking to Emelia |
| I will be hang’d if some eternal villain, Some busy and insinuating rogue, Some togging, cozening slave, to get some office. Have not devis’d this slander; I’ll be hang’d else. | Emelia, saying that a horrible person must be framing Desdemona |
| O no, he goes into Mauritania and takes away with him the fair Desdemona, unless his abode be lingered here by some accident; wherein none can be so determinate as the removing of Cassio. | Iago – removing of Cassio = killing |
| 4.3 | … |
| Get you to bed on th’instant. I will be reurned forthwith. Dismiss your attendant there. Look’t be done. | Othello, telling Desdemona to go to bed |
| My mother had a maid called Barbary: She was in love, and he she lov’d prov’d mad And did forsake her. She had a song of willow; | Desdemona, |
| But I do think it is their husbands’ faults If wives do fall | Desdemona, saying it’s the husband’s fault |
| 5.1 | … |
| Minion, your dear lies dead, And your unblest fate hies. Strumpet, I come! 35 Forth of my heart those charms, thine eyes, are blotted; Thy bed, lust-stain’d, shall with lust’s blood be spotted. | Othello, saying that Cassio is dead, and he’s coming to kill her |
| O damn’d Iago! O inhuman dog! | Roderigo, when Iago stabs him |
| Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash To be a party in this injury. | Iago, talking about Bianca |
| 5.2 | … |
| It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul: Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars. It is the cause | Othello, talking about Desdemona and his reason for killing her |
| If I quench thee, thou flaming minister, I can again thy former light restore, io Should I repent me; but once put out thy light, Thou cunning’st pattern of excelling nature, I know not where is that Promethean heat That can thy light relume | Othello saying that once her ‘light’ goes out, it cant be brought back again |
| Have you pray’d tonight, Desdemon? | Othello, asking if she’s prayed. |
| That handkerchief which I so lov’d and gave thee, Thou gav’st to Cassio… I saw the handkerchief. | Othello, talking about how Desdemona supposedly gave the handkerchief to Cassio |
| Cassio, my lord, hath kill’d a young Venetian Called Roderigo. | Emelia, reporting what has happened |
| A guiltless death I die. | Desdemona, saying that she died doing nothing wrong |
| O, the more angel she, And you the blacker devil! | Emelia, talking to Othello |
| O, I were damn’d beneath all depth in hell But that I did proceed upon just grounds 140 To this extremity. Thy husband knew it all. | Othello, saying that he acted justly by killing Desdemona |
| My husband? My husband? My husband say that she was false? | Emelia, talking about Iago |
| O thou dull Moor, that handkerchief thou speak’;t of I found by fortune and did give my husband, | Emelia, explaining what happened with the handkerchief |
| The woman falls; sure he hath kill’d his wife… He’s gone, but his wife’s kill’d. | Gratiano, talking about Emelia being stabbed by Iago |
| Here is my journey’s end, here is my butt And very sea-mark of my utmost sail. | Othello, saying he’s going to kill himself |
| Cold, cold, my girl, Even like thy chastity. | Othello, talking about Desdemona, saying that she was innocent |
| O cursed, cursed slave! Whip me, ye devils, From the possession of this heavenly sight! Blow me about in winds! Roast me in sulphur! Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire! 0 Desdemon! Dead Desdemon! Dead! 0! 0! | Othello, saying he’s going to hell |
SHAKESPEARE Othello – Selected Quotes
August 17, 2019