Act 1 Quotes

• "I follow him to serve my turn upon him" Act 1 Scene 1 - Iago

  • Iago attempts to make himself look higher and more presentable within society
  • Shows his selfishness and not in it for anyone else
  • Iago's motivation is jealousy - Cassio's promotion, feels Othello prefers him
• "O she deceives me" Act 1 Scene 1 - Brabantio

  • Desdemona goes against her father
  • He doesn't believe this and protests Desdemona's innocence
  • Conflict from setting in Venice has already erupted
  • Othello presented as the cause of this
• "An old black ram is tupping your white ewe" Act 1 Scene 1 - Iago

  • Iago reveals his racist and prejudice views
  • Brutal and sexually sever metaphor used to fuel Brabantio's anger on Desdemona's secret marriage and tries to get him to disapprove
  • Crude, sexual language used in a derogatory term. Show's Iago's zero filter and links to sex and race
  • Othello presented as a dangerous beast.
• "I love thee gentle Desdemona" Act 1 Scene 2 - Othello

  • First mention of love in the play is by Desdemona's husband.
  • Contextually, Venetian women were not valued for this, married for money and status. Perhaps arranged marriages.
  • 'gentle' shows their thoughts and feelings towards each other.
• "the rites for which I love him are bereft me" Act 1 Scene 3 - Desdemona

  • She is sacrificing everything. True love.
  • Desdemona supports Othello's accounts of events
  • Othello is needed in Cyprus , she wants to follow and go with him. Traditional for the women to stay while the husbands go to war.
  • Brabantio disapproves 'I'll have it not so'
• "with a greedy ear" Act 1 Scene 3 - Othello

  • Othello provides his backstory, which elicits sympathy and shows his heroic rise.
  • Desdemona is enticed by his stories and wants to care for him
  • Is this objectifying? Is this saying he is charming
• "put money in thy purse" Act 1 Scene 3 - Iago

  • Metaphor. Figure of speech
  • Saying to Roderigo, I bet she will move on, her love is not genuine
  • Is this true or is Iago deluding himself
  • Sexualising Desdemona, his mysogynistic views are apparent yet again
  • Suspicious of Emilia and Othello having an affair. Iago's jealousy and fear of being a cuckold.