A/S Character Quotations Aspects of love Analysis
A1 S1 Iago “almost damned in a Marriage/male atts Iago does not see any positives towards marriage- wives only bring problems.
fair wife” about Cassio towards women Already giving us insight into Iago views towards love. Snide remark about
Bianca loving C because he couldn’t have a open relationship because she is a
cortisan
A1 S1 Iago “I am not what I am” Appearance vs Deep down he is someone else- his superficial appearance is an act
reality
A1 S1 Iago “an old black ram is Marriage/race Desdemona has a lack of freedom about how she marries. The possessiveness
tupping your white implies Brabantio owns Desdemona “your”. The contrast in colours not only
ewe” reflects O’s race but also the faces Othello is taking away the purity of D.
A1 S1 Brabantio “this accident is not Platonic love B has been afraid of the influence of others- something he has been thinking
unlike my dream” about.
A1 S2 Othello “but that I love the True O is the first character to talk about love with a sense of sincerity. He wouldn’t
gentle Desdemona love/marriage choose anyone else- he is confident in their love
/devotion
A1 S2 Brabantio “she shunned the Marriage/ platonic D is not interested in suitable matches- she views love and marriage very
wealthy curled love/ possessive love differently to her father and she wants to marry someone she truly loves. B
darlings of our nation” wanted her to marry someone wealthy and of the right class.
A1 S3 Brabantio “dead?” “ay, to me” Platonic love/ B is so hurt by her decision to go against him he wants to disown her- reflects
possessive love the patriarchal society
A1 S3 Brabantio “for nature so Platonic love/ Believes nature has made a mistake in order for these two to fall in love. He
preposterously to err” marriage cant comprehend it
A1 S3 Othello “she loved me for the Admiration/marriage D was entranced by Othello’s victories and battles. Here O is sincere but
dangers I had passed, perhaps they have fallen in love with an idea or image of one another rather
and I loved her that than a realistic perception especially as this has happened very quickly. Their
she did pity them” whole relationship is based on O’s life and stories- not very mutual love
A1 S3 Iago “I never found a man True love Iago chose egoism rather than love. Love is not important to him
who knew how to love
himself”
A1 S3 Iago “I would drown myself Lust/atts towards Very dramatic about how he would rather change his humanity with a baboon
, for the love of a women than be drowned over a tart
guinea hen, change my
humanity with a
baboon”
A1 S3 Iago “whereof I take this, Lust vs love To him love is just a for of lust/carnal desires. He sees it as something small-
that you call love, to very patronising towards Roderigo
be a sect or scion”
A1 S3 Iago “put money in thy Access to love Iago is suggesting the only way Roderigo can win D is with money. Here it is
purse” rept 8 times also clear Iago wants to use R financially for his own personal gain
A2 S1 Cassio “our great captain’s Atts towards women Some recognition of D’s importance to O. They also see her as a respectable
captain” figure
A2 S1 Othello + “O my fair warrior” Admiration/ On the surface level we can see they are obviously very affectionate towards
Desdemona “My dear Othello” marriage each other and care about their safe arrival. However, you could argue they
don’t know each other very well as they are placing their own personality
traits onto their partner- reflects their quick marriage and the little amount of
time they have been together.
A2 S1 Iago “I do suspect the lusty Adultery/ atts He suspects O has taken his place as the husband/ satisfier of his wife. This
moor hath lept into towards women/ arguably is just about reputation because it is clear Iago does not care much
my seat” reputation about love or Emilia therefore he is only married to conform to venetian
society’s conventions rather than out of true love
A2 S1 Iago “till I am evened with Atts towards Dehumanises these individual women and displays a lack of care towards
him wife for wife” women/ marriage/ Emilia. Only cares about revenge and maintaining his reputation.
revenge
A2 S3 Cassio “reputation, Reputation Regrets letting himself become so out of control. In the Jacobean era, a man’s
reputation, reputation was everything
reputation! O I have
los t my reputation
A2 S3 Iago “I’ll pour this Revenge Wants to poison O’s thoughts to make him think D is up to something.
pestilence into his ear” Relentless- just wants to cause pain and suffering
A3 S3 Othello “I will deny thee Marriage/ atts Commands and demands D- emotional blackmail. Could be said with a very
A1 S1 Iago “almost damned in a Marriage/male atts Iago does not see any positives towards marriage- wives only bring problems.
fair wife” about Cassio towards women Already giving us insight into Iago views towards love. Snide remark about
Bianca loving C because he couldn’t have a open relationship because she is a
cortisan
A1 S1 Iago “I am not what I am” Appearance vs Deep down he is someone else- his superficial appearance is an act
reality
A1 S1 Iago “an old black ram is Marriage/race Desdemona has a lack of freedom about how she marries. The possessiveness
tupping your white implies Brabantio owns Desdemona “your”. The contrast in colours not only
ewe” reflects O’s race but also the faces Othello is taking away the purity of D.
A1 S1 Brabantio “this accident is not Platonic love B has been afraid of the influence of others- something he has been thinking
unlike my dream” about.
A1 S2 Othello “but that I love the True O is the first character to talk about love with a sense of sincerity. He wouldn’t
gentle Desdemona love/marriage choose anyone else- he is confident in their love
/devotion
A1 S2 Brabantio “she shunned the Marriage/ platonic D is not interested in suitable matches- she views love and marriage very
wealthy curled love/ possessive love differently to her father and she wants to marry someone she truly loves. B
darlings of our nation” wanted her to marry someone wealthy and of the right class.
A1 S3 Brabantio “dead?” “ay, to me” Platonic love/ B is so hurt by her decision to go against him he wants to disown her- reflects
possessive love the patriarchal society
A1 S3 Brabantio “for nature so Platonic love/ Believes nature has made a mistake in order for these two to fall in love. He
preposterously to err” marriage cant comprehend it
A1 S3 Othello “she loved me for the Admiration/marriage D was entranced by Othello’s victories and battles. Here O is sincere but
dangers I had passed, perhaps they have fallen in love with an idea or image of one another rather
and I loved her that than a realistic perception especially as this has happened very quickly. Their
she did pity them” whole relationship is based on O’s life and stories- not very mutual love
A1 S3 Iago “I never found a man True love Iago chose egoism rather than love. Love is not important to him
who knew how to love
himself”
A1 S3 Iago “I would drown myself Lust/atts towards Very dramatic about how he would rather change his humanity with a baboon
, for the love of a women than be drowned over a tart
guinea hen, change my
humanity with a
baboon”
A1 S3 Iago “whereof I take this, Lust vs love To him love is just a for of lust/carnal desires. He sees it as something small-
that you call love, to very patronising towards Roderigo
be a sect or scion”
A1 S3 Iago “put money in thy Access to love Iago is suggesting the only way Roderigo can win D is with money. Here it is
purse” rept 8 times also clear Iago wants to use R financially for his own personal gain
A2 S1 Cassio “our great captain’s Atts towards women Some recognition of D’s importance to O. They also see her as a respectable
captain” figure
A2 S1 Othello + “O my fair warrior” Admiration/ On the surface level we can see they are obviously very affectionate towards
Desdemona “My dear Othello” marriage each other and care about their safe arrival. However, you could argue they
don’t know each other very well as they are placing their own personality
traits onto their partner- reflects their quick marriage and the little amount of
time they have been together.
A2 S1 Iago “I do suspect the lusty Adultery/ atts He suspects O has taken his place as the husband/ satisfier of his wife. This
moor hath lept into towards women/ arguably is just about reputation because it is clear Iago does not care much
my seat” reputation about love or Emilia therefore he is only married to conform to venetian
society’s conventions rather than out of true love
A2 S1 Iago “till I am evened with Atts towards Dehumanises these individual women and displays a lack of care towards
him wife for wife” women/ marriage/ Emilia. Only cares about revenge and maintaining his reputation.
revenge
A2 S3 Cassio “reputation, Reputation Regrets letting himself become so out of control. In the Jacobean era, a man’s
reputation, reputation was everything
reputation! O I have
los t my reputation
A2 S3 Iago “I’ll pour this Revenge Wants to poison O’s thoughts to make him think D is up to something.
pestilence into his ear” Relentless- just wants to cause pain and suffering
A3 S3 Othello “I will deny thee Marriage/ atts Commands and demands D- emotional blackmail. Could be said with a very
