Quotes from Othello
For each Quote, Guess the speaker and meaning.
You will see these again!
“But that I love the gentle Desdemona, I would notmy unhoused free condition put into circumscriptionand confine for the sea’s worth?”
Quote 1
“And it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets H’asdone my office.”
Quote 2
“The Moor is of a free and open nature That thinksmen honest that but seem to be so;”
Quote 3
“I have drunk but one cup tonight, and that wascraftily qualified too;….I am unfortunate in theinfirmity and dare not task my weakness with anymore.”
Quote 4
“Make the Moor thank me, love me and reward mefor making him egregiously an ass and practicingupon his peace and quiet even to madness.”
Quote 5
“No, Iago; I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt,prove; And on the proof there is no more but this:Away at once with love or jealousy!”
Quote 6
“I am glad I have found this napkin; This was her firstremembrance from the Moor. My wayward husbandhath a hundred times Wooed me to steal it;”
Quote 7
“The jewels you have had from me to deliverDesdemona would half have corrupted a votarist.”
Quote 8
“Demand me nothing. What you know, you know.From this time forth I never will speak word.”
Quote 9
“I have done the state some service, and they know’t.No more of that.”
Quote 10
1 Othello
2 Iago
3 Iago
4 Cassio
5 Iago
6 Othello
7 Emilia
8 Rodrigo
9 Iago
10 Othello
Speakers
Meaning 1
“But that I love the gentle Desdemona, I would notmy unhoused free condition put into circumscriptionand confine for the sea’s worth?”
Othello reassures the purpose and scope of hismarriage – his love for Desdemona is larger and moreimpressive than his freedom as a bachelor. Thisforeshadows the fact that this powerful love will havepowerful consequences if corrupted or betrayed.
Meaning 2
“And it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets H’asdone my office.”
Iago reveals a rumor that Othello has been unfaithfulto Desdemona with his wife. Although this rumor isnot spoken of much, it is another reason that Iagomust craft Othello’s downfall. He later states that ifhe cannot have “wife for wife” equality, he will makeOthello so jealous, that he loses his mind.
Meaning 3
“The Moor is of a free and open nature That thinksmen honest that but seem to be so;”
Iago speaks about Othello’s trusting nature – if a manlooks honest, he believes that man is honest. Becauseof this trusting nature, Iago exploits Othello and ruinshim through his trust of Iago. Iago lies to Othello atevery turn, yet still seems honest, therefore Othellodoes not suspect the betrayal and manipulation.
Meaning 4
“I have drunk but one cup tonight, and that wascraftily qualified too;….I am unfortunate in theinfirmity and dare not task my weakness with anymore.”
Cassio reveals his lack of tolerance for alcohol,wanting to avoid the party that evening. When wethen see him inebriated later, we know that he willnot escape the situation unharmed because of hislack of tolerance.
Meaning 5
“Make the Moor thank me, love me and reward mefor making him egregiously an ass and practicingupon his peace and quiet even to madness.”
In one of Iago’s many soliloquies, He reminds us thateven though Othello will love him and praise him forhis help, everything Iago does will make him look bad,and drive him mad.
Meaning 6
“No, Iago; I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt,prove; And on the proof there is no more but this:Away at once with love or jealousy!”
Othello responds to Iago's first baiting with steadfastlove and demand for proof. However, as the jealousybaiting continues, Othello does not stand by thisword, and accepts hearsay and circumstantialevidence instead of hard and fast proof ofDesdemona’s infidelity.
Meaning 7
As Emilia finds Desdemona’s handkerchief, sheremembers the many times Iago has asked her tosteal it. She has no idea why he wants it.
As we watch the tragedy unfold, she realizes in Act 5that she has been a pawn in Iago’s plan to frameCassio and Desdemona for infidelity by leaving thehandkerchief in Cassio’s apartment, and both tellingOthello Cassio has it, and letting Othello see him[1]with it and [2]give it to Bianca. All of these actionsadd to Othello’s jealousy.
Meaning 8
“The jewels you have had from me to deliverDesdemona would half have corrupted a votarist.”
Votarist: Nun
Rodrigo is upset that his gifts have not done any goodto make Desdemona love him. Little does he know,Iago has not given any of them to Desdemona,keeping them all for himself and using Rodrigo to killCassio.
Meaning 9
“Demand me nothing. What you know, you know.From this time forth I never will speak word.”
Iago’s last line in the play. Because speaking tocharacters has been his power of manipulation, hequickly realizes that he has no more power over thembecause of the truth told by Emilia and Cassio.Therefore he drives them crazy even in his silence, asthey have to piece together the plan he put in motionfrom 2 letters and everyone’s knowledge.
Meaning 10
“I have done the state some service, and they know’t.No more of that.”
The beginning of Othello’s final monologue – he isidentifying his pride in his military accomplishments,but pushes it aside and does not use it to excuse hisbehavior.
He wants to be treated like any other man who mademistakes and murdered – not given special treatment(positive or negative) because of his military service.