These quotes are directly taken from the play Othello and have been analysed. Prominent symbols have been highlighted. Examples have been included showing how to intersect direct quotes with analysis, this will help students with literature essay writing skills. Studying from quotes directly help g...
Act 3
Scene i Quotes:
“I have made bold, Iago, to send in to your wife. My suit to her is that she will to virtuous
Desdemona procure me some access.” (Cassio) - Cassio searches for Emilia in order to ask her
for a moment alone with Desdemona. By describing Desdemona as “virtuous” shows he has no
sinister intentions.
“I’ll devise a mean to draw the Moor out of the way, that your converse and business may be
more free.” (Iago) - He will distract Othello to allow Cassio a moment to speak with Desdemona.
“Despise” has manipulative or sinister undertones.
“She speaks for you stoutly” (Emilia) - Emilia states that Desdemona is in favour of Cassio,
unknowingly she begins to build suspicion around their relationship.
“He might not but refuse you; but he protests he loves you.” (Emilia) - Othello still has love for
Cassio but he needs a reason to forgive him.
“I will bestow you where you shall have time to speak your bosom freely.” (Emilia) - She will
organise time for them to have a conversation alone, so that can freely speak from his heart.
Scene ii:
Scene iii Quotes:
“My general will forget my love and service.” (Cassio) - He fears that Othello will simply replace
him and forget about Cassio.
Desdemona assures Cassio that “my lord shall never rest” - she will pester him until this conflict
is over. “Thy solicitor shall rather die than give thy case away” - she will defend Cassio like a
lawyer.
“Cassio, my lord? No, sure I cannot think it / That he would steal away so guilty-like, seeing you
coming.” (Iago) - He fuels Othello’s paranoia by suggesting that the person who just left
Desdemona could not possibly be Cassio because he would surely not look so guilty.
“His present reconciliation take.” (Desdemona) - Cassio was only looking for forgiveness. “That
errs in ignorance, and not in cunning” - Cassio was not malicious, just ignorant.
“That he hath left part of his grief with me to suffer with him.” (Desdemona) - Cassio’s cause is
now on her conscience and his grief is now hers.
“Or sue to you to do a peculiar profit / To your own person.” (Desdemona) - She believes that
forgiving Cassio will benefit Othello and that she does not ask this of him selfishly. Desdemona
also states that if she were simply asking a favour she would be more “fearful” in demeanour.
, “I am obedient.” (Desdemona) - She leaves when he asks her to, showing she is still devoted to
him.
“I heard thee say even now thou lik’st not that, when Cassio left my wife. What didst not like?”
(Othello) - Questioning what Iago disliked about the way Cassio left his wife, because he saw
him “purse thy brow together.” He is asking why Iago is being so deceptive.
“Men should be what they seem.” (Iago) - This shows the audience that Iago is aware his
behaviour is bad but that he continues regardless.
“I am not bound to every act of duty.” (Iago) - He is bound to Othello but states that even slaves
have something that keeps them free - their thoughts.
“Who has a breast so pure, but some uncleanly apprehensions.” (Iago) - He doesn't want to tell
Othello what he thinks because even though he has “pure” intentions, his actions are not. Iago
is actually referring to himself and that he needs to contemplate his thoughts first.
“As I confess it is my nature's plague to spy into abuses, and oft my jealousy.” (Iago) - If he
suspects any wrong doing it is in his nature to investigate it.
“It were not for your quiet, nor your good, / nor for my manhood, honesty and wisdom.” (Iago) -
Othello assumes the good in people, but Iago assumes the worst from past experiences.
“Who steals my purse, steals trash; ‘tis something, nothing.” (Iago) - His wealth is not what
makes him rich but his name and reputation. He is attempting to strengthen his character by
insisting that he does not want to share his thoughts without proof. “Purse” is a metonymy for
materialism.
“O beware, my lord, of jealousy: It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock / The meat it
feeds on.” (Iago) - Jealousy is personified into a monster that eats away at you like a parasite.
“Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet fondly loves?” (Iago) - He is describing how Othello loves
Desdemona too much to leave her even if he suspects her of infidelity. Othello is not jealous that
Desemona “is free of speech”, “for she had eyes and chose me” - Even if she has better traits
than him, she still chose him.
Iago tells Othello to “look to your wife, observe her well with Cassio” and that he tells him this
“out of self-bounty” as he does not want Desdemona to take advantage of him. “In Venice they
do let God see the pranks.” - In Venice only God can see what people do, this alienates Othello
as he is reminded that he is an outsider.
“She did deceive her father, marrying you; and when she seemed to shake and fear your looks
she loved the most.” (Iago) - Iago echoes Brabantio’s words. Stating that she loved him when he
was at his most powerful and that was why she fell in love with him.
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