Othello Important Quotes Unpacked

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NCEA Level 1 English Flashcards on Othello Important Quotes Unpacked, created by erika jenkins on 10/10/2016.
erika jenkins
Flashcards by erika jenkins, updated more than 1 year ago
erika jenkins
Created by erika jenkins over 7 years ago
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“Reputation is an idle and most false imposition, oft got without merit and lost without deserving” In this famous line Iago ironically tells Cassio that reputation is not important and is often earned and lost without justification though it is Iago himself who has caused the decline in Cassio’s reputation. He says that reputation is an idle or fanciful attribute falsely imposed on one, often when one doesn’t deserve it and similarly it is usually lost when one doesn’t deserve to lose it.
“To mourn a mischief that is past and gone is the next way to draw new mischief on.” This quotation is part of the advice given by the Duke to Desdemona’s father Brabantio after his daughter has openly defied him and proclaimed that she ran away with Othello because she loves him. It says that to worry about a mischief that has already been done would only lead to more mischief. In other words if you hold on to a grudge over behavior you consider improper then it would only lead you to commit an act that will cause more trouble.
“Who would not make her husband a cuckold to make him a Monarch?” This quotation is part of an important passage in the play in which Desdemona has a discussion with Iago’s wife Emilia on marriage and fidelity. While Desdemona is absolutely devoted to love and marriage, Emilia looks at it with practical intelligence. A cuckold is the husband of an adulterous wife. This line says that why wouldn’t you cheat on your husband if it made him the King. Emilia is thus implying that infidelity is justified if there is something substantial to gain from it.
“Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see. She has deceived her father, and may thee.” This line is said to Othello by Desdemona’s father who feels he has been shamed by his daughter who has run away with Othello and thus has also become involved in an interracial relationship. His words can be taken as a curse and a forewarning. They tell Othello to beware if he is wise enough to see as his daughter who has deceived him may someday do the same to Othello. The words are important to the play as they ring in Othello’s ears later, adding to the poison they are being fed against Desdemona by Iago.
“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-ey’d monster, which doth mock the meat it feeds on.” In this famous line, Iago ironically warns Othello of the dangers of being jealous, comparing jealousy to a green eyed monster which makes fun of the victims it devours. Shakespeare refers to how jealousy toys with its victim before destroying him perhaps comparing it to the nature of cats playing with their prey. The notion of jealousy being green eyed is probably older than Shakespeare but he does give it the form of a monster. The phrase green eyed monster has since become a popular expression to denote jealousy.
As masterly as he: mere prattle, without practice Is all his soldiership. But he, sir, had the election; And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof At Rhodes, at Cyprus and on other grounds Christian and heathen, must be beleed and calmed By debitor and creditor. This counter-caster, He, in good time, must his lieutenant be Here, Iago claims he hates Othello because Othello passed him, Iago, over for a promotion, giving "one Michael Cassio" the job as his military lieutenant instead. Iago claims he's far more qualified than Cassio, who lacks Iago's experience on the field of battle. Clearly, Iago seems pretty jealous. But is this the real reason Iago sets out to destroy Othello? Or, is this merely an excuse to go after him? In other words, does Iago say all of this in order to manipulate Roderigo?
I hate the Moor, And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets 'Has done my office. I know not if 't be true, But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, Will do as if for surety. Iago says he hates Othello because he's heard a rumor that Othello has slept with Iago's wife, Emilia, "twixt [Iago's] sheets." Iago says he doesn't exactly know if the rumor's true, but he's decided to go ahead and ruin Othello's life anyway.
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