Character quote bank
Othello, Desdemona, Iago, Emilia, Cassio, Bianca, Roderigo, Brabantio, Duke or senator/ other
Act one scene one
Set at night, adding to the theme of black and white, light and dark, good and evil. Iago is instantly introduced as
an evil character through pathetic fallacy
“I know my price, I am worth no worse a place” Iago refers to his worth, honour and pride instantaneously. Shows
the importance he places on his societal position
“Mere prattle without practice” plosive alliteration emphasis the anger Iago feels towards Cassio, he believes he is
undeserving of his new position. One motive for Iago’s plotting
“At Rhodes, at Cyprus, and on other grounds” Iago lists his accomplishments and travels, to demonstrate his worth
and solder ship. Emphasises his bitterness
“He” “Moorship” the personal pronoun ‘he’ is stressed and ‘Moorship’ is a derogatory, racist term. Shows how Iago
does not form personal relationships with people; foreshadowing his lack of human equalities
“I follow him to serve my turn upon him” Iago sums up his plan early on, he demonstrates his deceptive and
revengeful nature, allowing the audience to see his untrustworthiness. He is self-serving- “in following him, I follow
but myself”
“We cannot all be masters” Iago demonstrates the high levels of competition amongst men. He is ambitious and
believes you make your own way in life, perhaps contrasting to the other character placing importance on fate and
destiny.
“Whip me such honest knaves” Iago judges those that are honest, he sees it as a sign of weakness
“Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves” Iago believes that the most natural way to live is to deceive others
to get ahead. Shows his selfishness
“Heaven is my judge” Irony, as Iago clearly doesn’t strive to live a virtuous life, and therefore cannot fear divine
retribution
“I am not what I am” sums up Iago’s illusion and reality; he deceives those around him
“Thick lips” racist, derogatory term. Shows how Othello is judged by his race and ethnicity and Roderigo's racism
“Poison his delight” Iago’s first remark of poisoning Othello’s mind and happiness; a reoccurring motif. Presents his
as a dangerous animal, or a snake, which has biblical connotations, furthering his evil nature
“Thieves, thieves! Look to your house, your daughter, and your bags!” Iago refers to Desdemona as being stolen,
instantly placing her as a possession of Brabantio’s. The order of house, daughter, and bags dehumanises her as a
woman and shows how she is a valuable asset of Brabantio’s
“An old black ram is tupping your white ewe” Iago uses racist, animalistic imagery. Suggests that Othello and
Desdemona’s relationship is based around lust and sexual desire rather than love. A crude euphemism. The violent,
modal verb “tupping” suggests that Othello is violating Desdemona, implying that Othello is forceful with his sexual
relationship with Desdemona. Shakespeare also uses colour imagery to present how unnatural the partnership is,
with Othello described as a “black ram” and Desdemona a “white ewe”. This has connotations to Desdemona’s
purity and virginity, suggesting that Othello has stolen her purity by fulfilling his sexual desires with her. This could
also have connotations to fears of miscegenation, as it hints at the fact that they would have mixed raced children.
Links to “your daughter and the Moor are making the beast with two backs” This hypersexualises their relationship.
The plosive alliteration creates harsh and violent B sounds, as if Iago is spitting the words out. This emphasises how a
sexual relationship between people of different races was seen as an outrage and unnatural, as Iago comes across as
disgusted by the words he is saying. Beast has biblical and satanic connotations
Othello, Desdemona, Iago, Emilia, Cassio, Bianca, Roderigo, Brabantio, Duke or senator/ other
Act one scene one
Set at night, adding to the theme of black and white, light and dark, good and evil. Iago is instantly introduced as
an evil character through pathetic fallacy
“I know my price, I am worth no worse a place” Iago refers to his worth, honour and pride instantaneously. Shows
the importance he places on his societal position
“Mere prattle without practice” plosive alliteration emphasis the anger Iago feels towards Cassio, he believes he is
undeserving of his new position. One motive for Iago’s plotting
“At Rhodes, at Cyprus, and on other grounds” Iago lists his accomplishments and travels, to demonstrate his worth
and solder ship. Emphasises his bitterness
“He” “Moorship” the personal pronoun ‘he’ is stressed and ‘Moorship’ is a derogatory, racist term. Shows how Iago
does not form personal relationships with people; foreshadowing his lack of human equalities
“I follow him to serve my turn upon him” Iago sums up his plan early on, he demonstrates his deceptive and
revengeful nature, allowing the audience to see his untrustworthiness. He is self-serving- “in following him, I follow
but myself”
“We cannot all be masters” Iago demonstrates the high levels of competition amongst men. He is ambitious and
believes you make your own way in life, perhaps contrasting to the other character placing importance on fate and
destiny.
“Whip me such honest knaves” Iago judges those that are honest, he sees it as a sign of weakness
“Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves” Iago believes that the most natural way to live is to deceive others
to get ahead. Shows his selfishness
“Heaven is my judge” Irony, as Iago clearly doesn’t strive to live a virtuous life, and therefore cannot fear divine
retribution
“I am not what I am” sums up Iago’s illusion and reality; he deceives those around him
“Thick lips” racist, derogatory term. Shows how Othello is judged by his race and ethnicity and Roderigo's racism
“Poison his delight” Iago’s first remark of poisoning Othello’s mind and happiness; a reoccurring motif. Presents his
as a dangerous animal, or a snake, which has biblical connotations, furthering his evil nature
“Thieves, thieves! Look to your house, your daughter, and your bags!” Iago refers to Desdemona as being stolen,
instantly placing her as a possession of Brabantio’s. The order of house, daughter, and bags dehumanises her as a
woman and shows how she is a valuable asset of Brabantio’s
“An old black ram is tupping your white ewe” Iago uses racist, animalistic imagery. Suggests that Othello and
Desdemona’s relationship is based around lust and sexual desire rather than love. A crude euphemism. The violent,
modal verb “tupping” suggests that Othello is violating Desdemona, implying that Othello is forceful with his sexual
relationship with Desdemona. Shakespeare also uses colour imagery to present how unnatural the partnership is,
with Othello described as a “black ram” and Desdemona a “white ewe”. This has connotations to Desdemona’s
purity and virginity, suggesting that Othello has stolen her purity by fulfilling his sexual desires with her. This could
also have connotations to fears of miscegenation, as it hints at the fact that they would have mixed raced children.
Links to “your daughter and the Moor are making the beast with two backs” This hypersexualises their relationship.
The plosive alliteration creates harsh and violent B sounds, as if Iago is spitting the words out. This emphasises how a
sexual relationship between people of different races was seen as an outrage and unnatural, as Iago comes across as
disgusted by the words he is saying. Beast has biblical and satanic connotations
