ACT 1

Key events:

·        Iago admits resentment towards Othello for him not being promoted to lieutenant.

·        Desdemona, Othello, Iago get sent to Cyprus, Roderigo accompanies them.

·        Iago’s soliloquy on his plan to undo the moor in Cyprus.

Key quotes

‘But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at. I am not what I am.’ Iago

Act 1, Sc. 1

·       The way Iago says he would rather have crows peck at his heart then show his true emotions, shows how deceitful he really is. Iago explains that the day that he decides to openly display what he feels inwardly, will be the day he makes himself most vulnerable. His implication is that such a day will never come. This shows that Iago is not entirely truthful, and in fact he is deceitful, backing up the theme of ‘Appearance vs. Reality’.

‘I do perceive here a divided duty … I am hitherto your daughter. But here’s my husband’ Desdemona Act 1, Sc. 3

·       Desdemona juxtaposes her position towards her father, with her position towards Othello, daughter vs. husband. These are amongst the first words we here Desdemona speak. Her speech shows her thoughtfulness, as she does not insist on her loyalty to Othello at the expense of respect for her father, but rather acknowledges that her duty is ‘divided’. This is the first time we see the theme of ‘Duty’ come into the play.

‘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 Act 1, Sc. 3

·       Possibly the most important soliloquy in the play, Iago reveals his plot to make Othello believe that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair. At the same time he reveals his intentions for doing so. Iago believes that Othello slept with his wife, and hence wants Othello to feel the way he feels.

‘your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs’ Iago Act 1, Sc 1

·       Iago displays his hatred towards Othello in the form of Racism ‘the Moor’. In the play, everyone is referred to as their name, or their status, Othello is the only one referred to by his race.

‘Zounds, sir, you are one of those that will not serve god, if the devil bid you. Because we came to do you service and you think we are ruffians’ Iago Act 1, Sc. 1

·       This quote is the first time that Shakespeare speaks of religion through one of his characters.

‘What a full fortune does the thick lips owe?’

·       Iago points out one of Othello’s defining features ‘thick lips’ and calls him by this. This shows Iago’s racism towards Othello, a racism that has most likely brewed from his jealousy, and bitterness at not getting promoted to lieutenant.

‘let your sentence even fall upon my life’

·       Othello has no  doubt that his faithful wife will tell the truth, even to her own father, and admit that she has wilfully married a black man. This shows that she has no fear of what other people think of her, and perhaps that she is too trusting towards Othello.

‘The Moor is of a free and open nature’

·       Iago is telling Roderigo and the Audience that Othello is far too trusting in people. Iago realises that this is one of his faults, and that by exploiting this he will be able to get revenge.

‘You’ll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse, you’ll have your nephew neigh to you, you’ll have coursers for cousins, and gennets for germans’ Iago Act 1, Sc. 1

·       Iago shows his true racism towards Othello when attempting to convince Brabantio that his beloved daughter is ‘making the beast with two backs’ with a black man. He uses very descriptive language, calling Othello by the place where he comes from. 

Act 2

Key events:

·       Iago informs Roderigo that Desdemona and Cassio are in love

·       Iago tells Roderigo to pick a fight with Cassio

·       Roderigo, Cassio and Montano fight

·       Iago explains his plan to destroy Othello with jealousy

Key Quotes

‘The lieutenant watches on the court of guard. First, I must tell thee this: Desdemona is directly in love with him’ Iago Act 2, Sc. 1

·        The use of the word directly implies that Desdemona has no feelings towards Othello whatsoever. Iago informs Roderigo of his ‘knowledge’ that Desdemona is in fact in love with Cassio

‘Her eye must be fed. And what delight shall she have to look upon the devil?’ Act 2, Sc. 1

·        Shakespeare juxtaposes evil with good, devil with angel. He knows that the reader associates good and beautiful things such as angels with heaven, so he calls Othello the devil, to show how truly ugly, Iago perceives him to be. Iago is telling Roderigo that Desdemona must love Cassio as Othello is not handsome enough to ‘feed her eye’ and to satisfy her.

‘The wine she drinks is made of grapes’ Iago Act 2, Sc. 1

·        Shakespeare uses a generic term for the time, to point out the fact that although she is so pure, and devoted, Desdemona is only human, and therefore has the same faults as all humans. Iago uses this term to Convince Roderigo that he may still have a chance of winning Desdemona’s heart, because although she is married to ‘the Moor’ she is only human and has the lust for satisfaction that all humans have.

‘Provoke him that he may; for even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny’

Iago Act 2, Sc. 1

·        Iago tells the audience as well as Roderigo that if Roderigo can pick a fight with Cassio, then Iago will have enough of an edge to be able to shame Cassio and get him demoted, or sacked from his role of lieutenant.

‘I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth then it should do offence to Michael Cassio. Yet I persuade myself to speak the truth shall nothing wrong him’ Iago Act 2, Sc. 3

·        Iago deceives Othello and says that it was Cassio’s fault that the fight started out. After saying that he is truthful, Iago deceives Othello, showing the audience that he is ‘two-faced’ and hiding behind a façade that he has set for himself.

‘Cassio, I love thee, but never more be officer of mine’ Othello Act 2, Sc. 3

·        Cassio has taken the bait and gotten himself drunk, Roderigo as planned has picked a fight with him and it ends up with Cassio’s demotion from Othello’s lieutenant. By Othello saying ‘I love thee’ it shows that rarely does Cassio slip up, and that he is an honest man in the best of times, however Othello is forced to demote him, as he must make an example of someone so  that others do not think that this is acceptable behaviour.

‘Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit and lost without reason’ Iago Act 2, Sc. 3

·        After Cassio’s demotion from his role as lieutenant, Iago talks to him about reputation. He speaks truth in that Cassio’s first worry when demoted was the loss of his reputation, ‘reputation, reputation, reputation, O, I have lost my reputation’. Iago trying to maintain his façade, tells Cassio this to make him feel better, and to keep him on side.

‘Good night, lieutenant; I must to the watch … Good night, honest Iago’

Iago and Cassio, Act 2, Sc. 3

·        Iago ‘rubs salt into the wound’ by reminding Cassio that he has just been demoted and that he himself will be taking over his role, yet Cassio still calls Iago honest. This is because Iago is careful of how people perceive him, for his plan to work, nobody can suspect him, otherwise it will unravel, and his plan will fail.

‘To win the Moor again? For ‘tis most easy, Th’inclining Desdemona to subdue in any honest suit… and then for her to win the Moor.’ Iago Act 2, Sc. 3

·        Iago cunningly informs Cassio that it is quite easy to win over Othello ‘the moor’, by going through Desdemona, the only person who he trusts undoubtedly. This is all part of Iago’s plan to separate Desdemona and Othello, and now that Cassio is in place, he only needs to sow seeds of doubt into Othello’s mind.

‘Myself awhile to draw the Moor apart and bring him jump when he may Cassio find soliciting his wife. Ay, that’s the way!’ Iago Act 2, Sc. 3

·        Iago informs the Audience in and aside, that his plan is falling into place nicely, Cassio has been demoted, he has taken in Iago’s idea to plead his innocence to Desdemona, and now all Iago needs to do is inform Othello that Cassio is trying to ‘solicit’ his wife.

Act 3

Key Events:

·        Desdemona agrees to do all she can to help Cassio regain his place

·        Iago begins his attack on Othello’s peace of mind raising the subject of Cassio’s integrity

·        Iago tells Othello to watch Desdemona and Cassio closely

·        Iago tells Othello that any pleading on Cassio’s behalf will be suspicious

·        Emilia picks up Desdemona’s handkerchief

·        Iago snatches the handkerchief from Emilia

·        Iago informs Audience of plan to place handkerchief in Cassio’s lodgings

·        Iago claims that Cassio has recently cried out Desdemona’s name in his sleep, and declares he has seen the handkerchief in Cassio’s possession

·        Iago promises to kill Cassio and is made lieutenant

Key Quotes:

‘O! beware, my lord, of jealousy; it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on’ Iago Act 3, Sc. 3

·        By calling jealousy a ‘monster’, it reminds the audience and Othello, of how bad it actually can be, and how much it can and will affect Othello. Iago refers to Othello as ‘my lord’ as he is trying to maintain his façade. He plants the idea that Othello is becoming jealous in Othello’s mind, so that he can corrupt himself from the inside.

‘Men should be what they seem; or those that be not, would they might seem none!’  Iago Act 3, Sc. 3

·        Possibly one of the most ironic lines in the play, Iago says that men should be what they seem, and those that are not, should not have the shape of human beings. This is ironic as Iago is not what he seems to be at all.

 ‘look at your wife, observe her well with Cassio’ Iago Act 3, Sc. 3

·        Iago tells Othello to watch out for Cassio, and especially when he is with Desdemona.

‘I am glad I have found this napkin’ Act 3, Sc. 3

·        Emilia, after being asked many times by Iago finally steals the napkin from Desdemona. By saying that she is glad that she has taken the handkerchief, it could be interpreted that she is glad that now Iago will stop bothering her, or that she is glad that she has completed what her husband has told her to do

‘The Moor already changes with my poison’ Act3. Sc.3

·        Iago describes his mind games as ‘poison’ as he realises that they slowly are seeping into his mind, and making him doubt. Iago recognises that Othello is tormented by his ‘poison’.

‘Give me a living reason she’s disloyal.’

·        Othello needs to know for sure that his wife is disloyal, he doesn’t full trust Iago, and he needs ‘living’ proof

‘Such a handkerchief … did I today see Cassio wipe his beard with.’

·        Iago lies to Othello, saying that he saw Cassio with Othello’s handkerchief. This pushes Othello over the edge, as it is a meaningful ‘magic’ handkerchief to him and his wife ahs left it with another man.

‘Within these three days let me hear thee say That Cassio’s not alive’ Othello Act 3, Sc. 3

·        Othello makes Iago pledge to kill Cassio. Because of jealousy, Othello wants to take the ultimate measure to get revenge, to kill Cassio.

 ‘If she be false, O! Then heaven mocks itself’ Othello, Act 3, Sc. 3

·        Othello is talking about his wife, Desdemona, saying if she is not faithful, then heaven mocks itself.

ACT 4

Key events:

• Othello questions Emilia and then Desdemona about Desdemona’s faithfulness.
• Willow song

Key Quotes:

‘Who would not make her husband a cuckold, to make him a monarch?’ Emilia Sc. 3

·        Desdemona thinks that a wife’s infidelity is a serious matter, only to be undertaken for good solid reasons of advantage.

‘Heaven me such uses send, Not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend.’ Desdemona Sc.3

·         Desdemona, in talking to Emilia, says that she is there to mend the bad. This is ironic as she cannot even notice that her husband has turned ‘bad’.

‘Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damned to-night; for she shall not live: no, my heart is turned to stone; I strike it, and it hurts my hand.’ Othello Sc. 1

·         Othello says that he has had enough of his wife’s ‘lies’ and can not stand it anymore. He says he must kill her, ‘let her rot, and perish’. The metaphor of his heart turning to stone, shows that he really could not care anymore about Desdemona.

‘Sing willow, willow, willow:’ Desdemona Sc.

·         Desdemona says that she is reminded of when her friend from Barbary sung the willow song, and on the same night she died. Well this is ironic as Desdemona will also die on the night that she sang this song.

‘unkindness may do much;/ and his unkindness may defeat my life,/ but never taint my love’

Act 5

Key events:

• Roderigo stabs Cassio
• Iago stabs Cassio
• Iago stabs Roderigo
• Othello kills Desdemona
• Emilia ‘dobs in’ Iago for stealing the handkerchief
• Iago stabs/kills Emilia
• Othello stabs Iago
• Othello kills himself

Key Quotes:

‘Put out the light, and then put out the light’ Othello Sc. 2

·        Othello says to literally put out the light, and then metaphorically put out the light on Cassio’s life.

‘Demand me nothing, what you know, you know: from this time forth I never will speak a word’ Iago Sc. 2

·        Iago tells Othello that he knows everything he needs to know, and now wants to sit back and watch his plan unfold.

‘I kissed the ere I killed thee, no way but this, killing myself, to die upon a kiss’ Othello Sc. 2

·        Othello realises the terrible mistake he has made in killing his wife, and now kills himself out of horror and disbelief.

‘Let heaven and men and devils, let them all, all, cry shame against me, yet I’ll speak’ Emilia Sc. 2

·        Emilia is faithful to her friend Desdemona, even after her death, and even if it means betraying her husband.

‘What noise is this? Not dead — not yet quite dead? I that am cruel am yet merciful; I would not have the linger in thy pain, so, so.’ Othello Sc. 2

·        Othello, hearing Emilia at the door, smothers and kills Desdemona so that she can not call out for help. The language used ‘I that am cruel am yet merciful’ implies that although Othello knows that it is cruel to kill his wife, he must do it anyway.