Othello quotes!

• AO3 Context 1

  Othello is the first Moor who is a tragic hero in Jacobean drama.
• Key Issues in Othello

  Conflict and love, Race and Gender roles and Power.
• AO3 Context 2

  In Giraldi's tale the moor is taken back to Venice where he is tortured and refuses to confess to his crimes. In Othello it is Iago who refuses to speak at the end of the play.
• AO3 Context 3

  All female roles were played by young boys.
• AO3 Context 5

  Cyprus was one of Venice's colonies from 1489 to 1571. Othello is set in 1570-71 making the hero one of the last men to be sent to protect the island from the Turks who reasserted supremacy in the region and gained possession of Cyprus by treaty in 1573.
• AO3 Context 4

  Christian traditions of the renaissance suggested that Africans were descendants of Noah's son Ham who was cursed by his father.
• Act 1 Synopsis

  Othello has secretly married a wealthy Venetians aristocrats Desdemona. Her father Brabantio is informed of this by Roderigo and goes in search of Othello and once he has found him he makes his way to the senate where he accuses Othello of bewitching his daughter. His accusations are proved wrong as Desdemona declares her love for Othello. The Duke of Venice tries to reconcile Brabantio to his daughters marriage but he disowns her. The senate then sends Othello to Cyprus to defend it from the Turks and Desdemona accompanies him.
• Act 2 Synopsis

  The Turkish fleet is destroyed in a storm before it arrives tot Cyprus. There is a night of festivities to celebrate victory and Othello and Desdemona's marriage. Roderigo has been persuaded to follow Desdemona to Cyprus and Iago has promised she will tire of Othello soon and Roderigo will be able to woo her. Iago then makes Roderigo believe that Cassio is competition for Desdemona's affection. On the night of the celebrations Roderigo challenges Cassio (who is very drunk) to a fight. Cassio is dismissed from his post and Iago tells Cassio that the only way he can win back Othello's trust is to get Desdemona to plead for him. Iago plans to persuade Othello that Desdemona has committed adultery with Cassio, he claims to have personal motives for revenge on Cassio and Othello as the have both 'cuckholded' him by having sexual relations with his wife Emilia.
• Act 3 Synopsis

  Iago persuades Othello that Desdemona is in love with Cassio, he 'finds' proof for this by using the handkerchief as a piece of evidence saying he saw it in Cassio's room. In fact Emilia gave Iago the handkerchief. Othello believes his wife to be a w***e and jealousy take over every emotion in his body. Othello vows to kill them both and Iago promises to help him. When asked bout the handkerchief she genuinely believes she has lost it and continues to plead for Cassio to be reinstated even though this will anger Othello more.
• Act 4 Synopsis

  Iago continues to torment Othello with stories of Desdemona and Cassio fornicating. Othello is overcome with jealousy that he has a fit and whilst he is writhing on the ground Iago persuades him to listen to Cassio and him having a conversation. When Othello hears Cassio laughing he assumes it is about Desdemona and him committing adultery. Othello also observes Bianca returning the handkerchief to Cassio and believes this is evidence of their adultery. Othello calls Desdemona a w***e and strikes her in front of Lodovico. Desdemona ends the scene singing the willow song.
• Act 5 Synopsis

  Othello as asked Iago to kill Cassio. Iago asks Roderigo to help him but all does not go to plan and Iago wounds Cassio and ends up killing Roderigo. Griped by jealousy Othello smothers Desdemona in her bed and she dies protesting her innocence. Emilia comes to inform Othello of the attach ok Cassio and finds her mistress dying. Emilia calls for help and Montano, Gratiano and Iago come running in to find what has happened. Othello is take prisoner and Emilia leaks all of Iago's plots which leads to Iago killing her. Othello realises his terrible folly and is prevented from killing the now imprisoned Iago so turns his weapon on himself. He dies full of remorse on the bed next to Desdemona and Cassio is made governor of Cyprus. Iago is then led away to be tortured.
• AO3 Context 6

  It is possible that Shakespeare may have been influenced by James I when he wrote Othello as James was fascinated by Turkish history and wrote a poem about the battle which occurred at Lepanto in the Ionian Sea in October 1571. When writing Othello, James was the new patron of Shakespeare's acting company the King's Men.
• Act 1 Scene 1 Summary

  - Roderigo is unhappy with Iago for failing to promote his marriage to Desdemona who has secretly married Othello.

  - Iago says that Othello has promoted an inexperienced soldier, Michael Cassio over him, and that he hates Othello and wants revenge on him.

  - To cause trouble, Iago urges Roderigo to wake up Brabantio and inform him of his daughter Desdemona's elopement.

  - Brabantio discovers hat Desdemona is not in her room. calling for weapons, he sets out to locate her and Othello.
• Act 1 Scene 2 Summary

  - Iago warns that Brabantio may use his influence to have Othello arrested and his marriage dissolved.

  - Othello is confident that his services to the state, his reputation and his royal breeding make him a suitable match for Desdemona.

  - Cassio brings a message from the Duke, who urgently requires Othello's presence at a meeting of the Venetian council. On the way there Othello and his soldiers are accosted by Brabantio and his followers.

  - Othello commands the men to put away their weapons and denies Brabatio's accusations of bewitching Desdemona.

  - Brabantio decides to go to the council meeting too, so that the Duke can be informed of Othello's treachery.
• Act 1 Scene 3 Summary

  - Othello is told to prepare for a war against the Turks after their invasion of Cyprus.

  - Brabantio repeats his accusations of witchcraft against Othello.

  - Othello recounts the history of his relationship with Desdemona and she is brought to the council chamber to confirm Othello's words; the duke urges Brabantio to reconcile himself to the marriage.

  - Desdemona asks to be allowed to accompany her husband on his military campaign and Othello places her in Iago's care.

  - Brabantio warns Othello against trusting Desdemona.

  - Iago says he will help Roderigo seduce Desdemona and cuckold Othello.
• Act 2 Scene 1 Summary

  - The Turkish fleet is destroyed by a storm, but all the characters in the play remain unharmed.

  - Iago dislikes the courteous way Cassio meet Emilia.

  - Othello is overjoyed to be reunited with Desdemona.

  - Iago persuades Roderigo to provoke Cassio into loosing his temper in the hope pf discrediting him.

  - Iago reiterates his desire to have revenge on Othello and Cassio. He suspects them both of cuckolding.
• Act 2 Scene 2 Summary

  - Peace is restored in Cyprus.

  - There is to be a night of revels to celebrate the destruction of the Turkish fleet and Othello's marriage.
• Act 2 Scene 3 Summary

  - Iago is put in charge of the festivities and Desdemona and Othello leave to consummate their marriage.

  - Iago persuades Cassio to join in the carousing and undermines Cassio's reputation by telling Montano that Cassio is a drunkard.

  - Roderigo antagonises Cassio, a fight ensues and Othello dismisses Cassio from his post.

  - Iago advises Cassio to seek Desdemona's help on his belief.

  - Iago intends to persuade his wife, Emilia, to promote Cassio's cause with Desdemona while he poison's Othello's mind.
• Act 3 Scenes 1 & 2 Summary

  - Cassio hires some musicians to serenade Othello and Desdemona, but Othello sends a clown to pay the musicians to leave.

  - Iago says he will divert Othello's attention so that Cassio can speak to Desdemona alone and Emilia agrees to help.

  - Othello sets out to inspect the fortifications in the town with Iago at his side.
• Act 3 Scene 3 Summary

  - Desdemona pleads with Othello to reinstate Cassio.

  - Iago poisons Othello's mind against Cassio, hinting that he has committed adultery with Desdemona, and Othello begins to doubt Desdemona's love and becomes jealous.

  - Desdemona drops her handkerchief, Emilia picks it up and gives it to Iago.

  - Othello demands proof of Desdemona's adultery.

  - Iago describes how Cassio called out for Desdemona in a dream and has been seen wiping his beard with the handkerchief.

  - Othello asks Iago to kill Cassio an he promotes Iago.

  - Othello intends to kill Desdemona.
• Act 3 Scene 4 Summary

  - Desdemona asks the clown to inform Cassio that she has pleaded for him.

  - She is uneasy about losing the handkerchief.

  - She tries again to promote Cassio's cause.

  - Othello is angry with Desdemona because he believes as she has lost the handkerchief.

  - Cassio's mistress, Bianca, is annoyed with Cassio because he has not visited her recently; he give Bianca Desdemona's handkerchief, saying he found it in his bedchamber.
• Act 4 Scene 1 Summary

  - Iago torments Othello with crude images of Desdemona's infidelity and references to the handkerchief, leading to Othello falling down in a fit.

  - Iago tells Othello to withdraw so that he can have a conversation with Cassio, and he questions Cassio about Bianca.

  - Seeing Desdemona's handkerchief in Bianca's hand and believes Desdemona must have given it to him as a love token, Othello vows to murder his wife.

  - Venetian visitors bring news that Cassio is to replace Othello.

  - Othello strikes Desdemona.
• Act 4 Scene 2 Summary


  - Othello questions Emilia but does not believe her when she says Desdemona is true to him.

  - Othello confronts Desdemona, trying to get her to confess she has committed adultery, but Desdemona defends her honor.

  - Believing that she has assisted Desdemona in her wantonness, Othello offers Emilia money and leaves in disgust.

  - Desdemona appeals to Iago for help.

  - Iago persuades Roderigo to help in his plot to kill Cassio.
• Act 4 Scene 3 Summary

  - Othello sends Desdemona to prepare for bed.

  - Emilia says she wishes Desdemona had never met Othello, but Desdemona says she still loves her husband.

  - Desdemona is unable to dismiss a melancholy song from her mind and sings it.

  - The women discuss female infidelity.
• Act 5 Scene 1 Summary

  - Following Iago's instructions, Roderigo tries to wound Cassio but instead Roderigo is wounded by Cassio.

  - As Iago steps in and stabs Cassio in the leg, Othello hears cried, believe Cassio has been killed, and is spurred on his own revenge.

  - Lodovico and Gratiano come out when they hear the commotion and attend to the wounded Cassio.

  - Iago kills Roderigo.

  Bianca appears, Iago accuses her of involvement in a plot to kill Cassio.

  - Roderigo's body is discovered and Iago sends Emilia to inform Othello and Desdemona of what has happened.
• Act 5 Scene 2 Summary

  - As Desdemona sleeps in her room, Othello explains he will kill her, the he kisses her thus waking her.

  - Desdemona weeps when Othello tells her that Cassio is dead and, believing Desdemona loved Cassio, Othello smothers her.

  - Emilia is horrified when Desdemona revives briefly and says she caused her own death.

  - After Othello explains why he killed Desdemona, Emilia insults him and summons Montano, Gratiano and Iago.

  - Iago denies Emilia's accusations of villainy, stabs her and leaves her to die on the bed next to Desdemona.

  - Guards return with Iago; Othello wounds him but Iago will not explain his actions.

  - Iago's plots are revealed and, realising his folly, Othello kills himself.
• Iago

  "But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at"

  
• Iago

  "I am not what I am"

  
• Roderigo

  "what a full fortune does the thick lips owe"

  
• Iago

  "poison his delight...Plague him with flies"

  
• Iago

  "an old black ram is tupping your white ewe"

  
• Iago


  "thieves, thieves!"

  
• Iago

  "devil"

  
• Brabantio


  "my daughter is not for thee"

  
• Brabantio


  "what tell'st thou me of robbing?"

  
• Iago


  "barbary horse...your nephews neigh to you"

  
• Iago

  "your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs"

  
• Roderigo


  "tying her duty, beauty, wit and fortunes"

  
• Brabantio


  "this accident is not unlike my dream"

  
• Iago

  "I must show out a flag and sign of love"