Othello - Character
CHARACTER QUOTE ANALYSIS
Othello ‘The Moor’ [Iago] Othello is unnamed, reference to race
‘An old black ram’ [Iago] Animalistic imagery, racial reference
‘A Barbary horse’ [Iago] Animalistic imagery, savage
‘The gross clasps of a lascivious Sexual, crude, immoral, racial references,
Moor’ [Iago] building a negative image of Othello
‘I love the gentle Desdemona’ Eloquence, contrasts Iago’s language
‘Keep up your bright swords’ Othello as peaceful and in control
‘Most potent, grave and reverend signors’ Eloquence, respect, control
‘Let her speak of me’ Giving Desdemona a voice, respect
‘Speak, who began this?’ Othello in control, as a soldier
‘My blood begins my safer guides to rule’ Beginning of his downfall
‘’Tis monstrous’ Adopting Iago’s language, downfall
‘I will deny thee nothing’ Showing love to Desdemona
‘I’ll see before I doubt’ Othello in control, being rational
‘Why did I marry?’ Out of control, anger, downfall
‘Farewell the tranquil mind!’ Beginning of his downfall
‘Thous hadst been better have been born Using animalistic imagery, adopting Iago’s
a dog’ language
‘Death and damnation!’ Violent and negative language
‘O monstrous! Monstrous!’ Adopting Iago’s language, downfall
‘I’ll tear her all to pieces!’ Very violent language, no love
‘Arise, black vengeance’ Supernatural language, negative
‘I will chop her into messes!’ Violent language, no love
‘He strikes her’ Othello as violent
‘Get you to bed’ In control, demanding, violent
‘Put out the light, and then put out the Eloquence, not realising what he is doing,
light’ taking back some control
‘He smothers her’ Violent, ultimate downfall
‘Sweet revenge grows harsh’ Negative and violent imagery
‘And you the blacker devil’ [Emilia] Using Iago’s language, racial reference
‘Speak of me as I am’ No remorse, lack of love
‘He stabs himself’ Lack of justice, ultimate downfall
Iago ‘I know my place’ Reason for his revenge
‘I hate the Moor’ Negative language, beginning the tragedy
CHARACTER QUOTE ANALYSIS
Othello ‘The Moor’ [Iago] Othello is unnamed, reference to race
‘An old black ram’ [Iago] Animalistic imagery, racial reference
‘A Barbary horse’ [Iago] Animalistic imagery, savage
‘The gross clasps of a lascivious Sexual, crude, immoral, racial references,
Moor’ [Iago] building a negative image of Othello
‘I love the gentle Desdemona’ Eloquence, contrasts Iago’s language
‘Keep up your bright swords’ Othello as peaceful and in control
‘Most potent, grave and reverend signors’ Eloquence, respect, control
‘Let her speak of me’ Giving Desdemona a voice, respect
‘Speak, who began this?’ Othello in control, as a soldier
‘My blood begins my safer guides to rule’ Beginning of his downfall
‘’Tis monstrous’ Adopting Iago’s language, downfall
‘I will deny thee nothing’ Showing love to Desdemona
‘I’ll see before I doubt’ Othello in control, being rational
‘Why did I marry?’ Out of control, anger, downfall
‘Farewell the tranquil mind!’ Beginning of his downfall
‘Thous hadst been better have been born Using animalistic imagery, adopting Iago’s
a dog’ language
‘Death and damnation!’ Violent and negative language
‘O monstrous! Monstrous!’ Adopting Iago’s language, downfall
‘I’ll tear her all to pieces!’ Very violent language, no love
‘Arise, black vengeance’ Supernatural language, negative
‘I will chop her into messes!’ Violent language, no love
‘He strikes her’ Othello as violent
‘Get you to bed’ In control, demanding, violent
‘Put out the light, and then put out the Eloquence, not realising what he is doing,
light’ taking back some control
‘He smothers her’ Violent, ultimate downfall
‘Sweet revenge grows harsh’ Negative and violent imagery
‘And you the blacker devil’ [Emilia] Using Iago’s language, racial reference
‘Speak of me as I am’ No remorse, lack of love
‘He stabs himself’ Lack of justice, ultimate downfall
Iago ‘I know my place’ Reason for his revenge
‘I hate the Moor’ Negative language, beginning the tragedy
