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| Question | Answer |
| “Preferment goes by letter and affection,/ Not by the old gradation” | Iago is jealous that Cassio has been made Othello’s lieutenant. He describes Cassio as having “mere prattle without practice”, and scorns how promotion is awarded through favouritism rather than skill. |
| “I follow him to serve my turn upon him.” | From the very start of the play, it is clear that Iago wants to get revenge on Othello. His pretence at loyalty establishes his deceptive nature. |
| “I am not what I am.” | Iago is not what he appears, and is able to manipulate other characters under the pretence of being “honest”. This also links to the Bible where God says, “I am that I am.” It could be argued that by saying the exact opposite to God, Iago is like the devil. |
| “an old black ram/ Is tupping your white ewe.” | Iago uses provocative, racist language to enrage Brabantio and tell him that Othello and Desdemona are having sex. This quote also reflects the negative attitudes of Jacobean society regarding marriage between different races. |
| “poison his delight” | Throughout the play, the imagery of “poison” is used to represent both Iago’s manipulation, and his hatred towards other Othello. Iago is attempting to “poison” the relationship between Brabantio and his daughter Desdemona and Othello. |
| “Faith, he tonight hath boarded a land carrack” | A “carrack” was a sailing ship that was often loaded with treasure. This metaphor implies that Othello has stolen Desdemona in an act of piracy. |
| “By Janus, I think so.” | Iago decides to swear by a two-faced Roman God, who could see into the past and future. This could be a symbol of Iago’s duplicity, as well as his control over the events of the play. |
| “I hate the Moor./ And it is the thought abroad that twixt my sheets/ He’s done my office, I know not if’t be true” | Iago suspects that Othello has had an affair with his wife Emilia, and uses this as a reason (or an excuse) to plot against Othello. Iago’s soliloquies not only show the audience his intentions, but also make them complicit in his schemes. |
| “the thought whereof/ Doth like a poisonous mineral gnaw my inwards” | Anger and jealousy are poisoning Iago. It could be argued that he wants Othello to experience this through his plan to make Othello believe Desdemona is unfaithful. It is suggested that jealousy is the the underlying cause of the tragedy. |
| “I’ll pour this pestilence into his ear” | Jealousy is presented as a consuming emotion here, which is passed from one person to another. Iago intends to poison Othello against Desdemona. The use of plosive alliteration emphasises Iago’s malicious intentions. |
| “Ha! I like not that.” | This half-line marks the start of Iago’s manipulation of Othello. By drawing attention to Cassio and Desdemona together, Iago can subtly start to hint that Desdemona may not be as innocent as she seems. |
| “No, sure I cannot think it/ That he would steal away so guilty-like” | Iago’s apparent disbelief makes him appear even more “honest” to Othello, whilst also implying that Cassio is being suspicious. Iago cleverly allows Othello to draw his own conclusions to the situation by being deliberately vague. |
| “O beware, my lord, of jealousy:/ It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock/ The meat it feeds on.” | The metaphor of jealousy being a monster shows how it torments its victims, and how it quickly can get out of control. The idea that it makes a mockery of people implies that jealousy can cause people to destroy their reputation and ruin everything around them. |
| “but such a handkerchief-/ I am sure it was your wife’s- did I today/ See Cassio wipe his beard with.” | Iago uses the “handkerchief”, Othello’s first gift to Desdemona and very important to him, as the “ocular proof” of Desdemona’s supposed infidelity. Iago manipulates a symbol of love and trust and turns it into a destructive force. |
| “Witness that here Iago doth give up/ The execution of his wit, hands, heart,/ To wronged Othello’s service.” [They rise.] | Iago’s success in gaining Othello’s trust is shown in this scene. Both characters kneel together and Iago swears to serve Othello in what resembles a marriage ceremony, implying that Iago has replaced Desdemona in Othello’s affections. |
| “I am your own for ever.” | Iago’s declaration of love for Othello, it has been argued, suggests that Iago has homosexual feelings for Othello. This line also has a sense of finality: the tragedy of the play is now inevitable. The use of the separate words “for ever” adds to the fatalistic tone of the line. |
| “From this time forth I never will speak word.” | Although his plot has been revealed, Iago still remains in control. By refusing to reveal the truth about what has happened, Iago leaves the tragedy unresolved, inflicting even more pain. This also reminds the audience how Iago’s motives are a mystery and how little we know about him. |
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