The 10 Most Important Quotes in Othello
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- čas přidán 3. 08. 2024
- Studying Shakespeare? Dr Aidan, PhD in Shakespeare, provides you with the 10 Key Quotes in OTHELLO that will help you to unlock the play and strengthen your understanding of its key themes.
Quick, relaxed, and informative, The Complete Guide to Shakespeare aims to make the plays accessible to everyone.
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IM SO COOKED
Same man
anyone else here for the english lit a level exam tomorrow 😭😭😭
yes 😭
I have mine today 😢
How did u know
Chilling at midnight tryna cram right before the test
sup guys i’m back 1.5 years later to tell u all i got an A #slay
I arrrready know there's gonna be tons of other people round this vid with the AQA Tragedy exam tomorrow.
Thank you for saying that. If you have any other questions on Othello do let me know and I'll see if I can answer them.
@@DrAidan I would love to see what you think about critical scenes such as the temptation scene and the willow scene ^^
On the temptation scene (3.3) I think it is interesting to see how the action develops via subtle hints and questions. Clearly the 'I like not that' interjection starts the process of making Othello jealous. But note that Iago overhears Desdemona reveal that Cassio 'came a-wooing' with Othello (acting as a substitute for Othello, rather like Don Pedro woos hero in Much Ado). Iago didn't know this - see 1.2.52 when Cassio possibly pretends he doesn't know about Othello's marriage. Hearing this revelation, Iago develops his line of questioning more subtly, asking 'did Michael Cassio, when you wooed my lady, / Know of your love?'. The implication is that Cassio may have had his own agenda in meeting with Desdemona at this point. He then backs off, saying he was just thinking of something, but this prompts Othello to want to know more because he THINKS Iago is honest - and he will want to know what an honest man thinks. This is when Iago hooks him and Othello cannot be satisfied until he knows what Iago thinks - and Iago holds the information back until he says 'That cuckold lives in bliss / Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger ' (line 169) - i.e. the man who KNOWS AND EXPECTS his wife will be unfaithful is in a funny way happier than one who dotes on her but then doubts her. This is how he gradually manipulates Othello into the position where he is the one who dotes and doubts.
As for the willow scene (4.3) part of its power is retardation - the delay of the inevitable scene of conflict with Othello. After 4.2.91-92 - 'I took you for that cunning whore of Venice' - we don't see Othello for 154 lines. Then we only see him for 8 lines where he merely says he will return and Desdemona must be on her own in her bedroom when he gets back. We are concerned for her safety and this quiet, reflective scene, where she remains calm, is almost like her being prepared for sacrifice. This threat is intensified when we learn the willow song was sung by a woman who died singing it. Willow itself is a tree associated with death - compare Ophelia in Hamlet. And lastly, the scene reinforces Desdemona's virtue. Even when Emilia says she might sleep with another man if the reward was sufficient, Desdemona remains loyal to her husband. This makes the scenes that follow even more powerful.
I hope that's helpful.
how tf did you know
Nah I got it today
prelims tomorrow, about to yeet myself across the Pacific. On a side note: thank you for this video, very helpful
Did you advance
my prelims are tomorrow 😭
what he said for all you busy people xx :
“I am not what I am” - Iago - enigmatic- façade- dramatic irony because audience knows he doesn’t mean what he says : revelations of Iago’s intention - being passed over for promotion, Othello having affair with Emilia and that Cassio is not a proper soldier shapes how audience perceives events : primacy effect - makes us sympathize with Iago even though we know he is doing reprehensible things
“Even now, now, very now, an old black ran is tupping your white ewe!” - racist - black sheep is rarity ( as Othello is) and an outcast - Iago repeats now : technique of repeating present tense to make events seem more real and immediate
“So please your grace, my ancient: a man he is of honesty and trust” : ( duke - my grace Iago - my ancient ) shows degree to which Othello is already deceived by Iago’s seemingly honest behavior - frequent repetition of honesty ( used 49 times) - usually ironic
“Look took her, moor, if thou hast eyes to see: she has deceived her father and may thee” : - Brabantio first introduces idea that she is untrustworthy - distracted him by running away with Othello - makes it easier for Othello to believe Iago’s deception
“O beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green- eyed monster, which doth mock the meat it feeds on” - Iago- act 3 - Iago warning Othello that jealousy is uncontrollable - but also reflective of Iago’s own jealousy - the green eyed monster that will consume Othello Thru manipulation
“Not poppy nor mandragora, nor all the drowsy syrups of the world shall ever medicine thee to the sweep sleep which thou owedest yesterday” - Iago - medicine = verb to make more active and powerful and sweet sleep ( lack of sleep often used by Shakespeare) as a sign of discontent and discomfort
“I think my wife be honest, and think she is not, I think that thou art just and think thou art not” - act 3 - turning point - set up key decision for who he will believe - erroneous decision of choosing deceptive Iago - similar sentences show the delicate balance between who to believe : increasing dramatic irony
“Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more me. Put out the light, and then put out the light)“ act 5 - Othello) sniffing candle - intends to snuff out Desdemona’s spiritual light - human life extinguished as easily as candle flame - reasoning because she may betray other men in the future - weak argument - must conclude he doesn’t believe it himself
“Demand me nothing. What you know, you know. From this time forth I never will speak word” (Iago scene 5) - motivation have been constant source of mystery
“Then you must speak of one that loved not wisely, but too well” ( act 5) - he is confused - Suggests he loved her too well - too trusting but we may see his actions were made to protect his reputation husband of a supposed unfaithful wife -he has committed an honor killing
you are absolutely incredible
Legend
God bless you😍❤❤❤
tysm
god bless u fr
This was really helpful. Have an exam tomorrow and i feel a bit more confident.
That's good to hear. Thanks for your comment and best of luck tomorrow.
exam tommorow gonna kms
Same
Same bro
Mood.
Jak Betty Fuck English, most irrelevant subject
Great vid. I'm probably the only comment here not studying for an exam. I just love Othello, it's a brilliant story and Iago is arguably the greatest villian ever created.
I agree: Iago is such a good character. What I like is how Shakespeare gets us to see the world from Iago's point of view at the beginning, thus making us more empathetic than we might otherwise be.
nerdd
@@sad_dog8 And proud.
iago isn't really a good villain as much as the people in the text are blind to his scheming, if one competent person was on that island he would have been caught out fairly quickly
@@chobochobus I reject your hypothesis.
Absolute class video. Massive help with my Alevel revision. 👊
ANDY ROO DA BOSS I’m very pleased to hear that and thank you for your kind words.
Couldn’t agree more- Tristan
I’ve loved studying othello. But I am absolutely cooked for this gcse paper. Thanks for the quotes, this is a massive help.
I’m glad the quotes helped and I hope the exam goes well for you.
@@DrAidan went smashingly, thanks.
@@tormclean9657 I’m very pleased to hear that.
That's great to hear. @@tormclean9657
a level tmrw im acc finished but this is helping me have some hope
I’m glad the video was helpful : I hope tomorrow goes well.
dw me too 😽
Me too, this shit is scary
I really appreciate this video with brief Analysis of those famous quotes. Instructing and Constructing, making the Passion to Learn more about Othello, Classic Literature and many Masterpieces. Thank you very much. Keep going.
Glad you enjoyed it!
@@DrAidan What about all Famous Quotes from all Shakespeare's Plays ?
I mean about King Lear 10 Famous Quotes.
Thank you so much for this video! Just revising for my mid year exams and this is helping a bunch
Thank you: I hope the exams go well.
my exam is tmr.. so i will update. but tysm boss man
Hope the exam went well.
I don't know why but i think my professor is gonna ask about one of these quotes in the exam tomorrow!!😅 Thanks mate, such a helpful video you delivered.
Thank you. Glad you found it useful.
I am very very impressed with your work in helping me understand the play better thanks!
That is a very kind thing to say : thank you. I’m pleased you found it useful.
Alot of depth and understanding in the selection and analysis of these quotes. Thanks so much!
Thank you: I'm pleased you liked the video and thank you for letting me know.
Thanks so much for the content you make :)
3 hours before my exam, yikes
your voice is soothing and gentle. Thanks BTW
amazing video man plz do more
OMG THANKYOU SO SO MUCH!
Thanks for the comment Ciara. Glad to hear you found the video useful!
Thabk u this video really helped i have my exam today and I literally am watching this before I leave my exam honestky ur a legendds
That is a very kind thing to say. Thank you. I’m pleased to hear that you found it helpful and I hope the exam goes very well today.
i don’t even study it i’m just bored
HAHAH
Da best this really helped m in my theme analysis sir very good work !
Glad to hear that. Thank you.
I am 89 years old and after all these years, I wanted to recap some details I had forgotten
That’s great. Thank you very much for watching and I hope you enjoyed the video.
Great vid, really easy to understand...
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for letting me know.
OK, this is epic
Exam is literally in couple hours kms
Same good luck 😭😭😭
THANKYOU SO MUCH!! I have my exams next month and this was rlly helpful
Very glad to hear that it was useful.
thank you for this!
Glad it was helpful.
thank you for this .
My pleasure! Thank you for commenting and I'm glad it was helpful.
More helpful than my English teacher
I'm very pleased to hear that it was helpful. Thank you!
Thank you very much that was useful
Thank you for letting me know: I'm glad you liked it.
Thank you soo much very helpful
Glad it helped: thank you for letting me know.
Thank you so much!!
Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad to hear that you found it useful.
yo i have my IB paper 2 tomorrow this is such a lifesaver, thank you
Thank you. I hope the paper goes well tomorrow.
did the paper go well? good luck to you next week
I’m cooked on a level i cannot comprehend
very helpful! cheers.
Thank you. Very glad to hear you found it useful.
A very good video to students like me. ❤️😑 thank you so much sir ❤️❤️
It's my pleasure
Superb
Gorgeous
Cheers, got an in-class essay on Othello tmrw!
I hope the essay goes very well and that you found the video useful!
Got my FGA tomorrow. Let's go babey!
Thanks mate
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.
Your videos are very helpful.
Shraddha Juyal - thank you! I’m very pleased that you are finding them useful.
That was really good. I have an exams starting next week. Othello and poem comparison. For this year, our main topic is love. Could please tell me some good quotes that explore the theme of love throughout the play, please?
Good question: love is mentioned 84 times in this play, so we have a lot to work with. In essence it is used in three ways and here a few quotes that might be useful.
1. LOVE AS DEEP EMOTIONAL ATTRACTION, AFFECTION AND RESPECT.
QUOTE ONE
'for know, Iago,
But that I love the gentle Desdemona,
I would not my unhoused free condition
Put into circumscription and confine
For the sea's worth.' (1.2.24-28)
This demonstrates that Othello has given up the life of a wandering soldier - the thing that has given his life meaning - to marry Desdemona. It is, for him, an indication of how deeply he is in love.
QUOTE TWO
'She loved me for the dangers I had pass'd,
And I loved her that she did pity them.' (1.3.168-69)
This shows the love is mutual. She admires his traditional manly qualities of bravery and he loves her for valuing them.
2. LOVE AS AN ANIMAL INSTINCT AND SOMETHING HIGHLY TRANSIENT
Iago, however, seems to have a different view of love. He says to Roderigo:
QUOTE THREE
'I never found man
that knew how to love himself. Ere I would say, I
would drown myself for the love of a guinea-hen, I
would change my humanity with a baboon.' (1.3.314-17)
His focus is on the transience of love and compares women to 'guinea hens'. He thinks he would be as irrational as an animal - a baboon - to think of killing himself over the love of a woman.
QUOTE FOUR
'but we have
reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal
stings, our unbitted lusts, whereof I take this that
you call love to be a sect or scion.' (1.3.330-34)
Again, we see here Iago bracketing love with lust - and lust is something that lasts briefly and then disappears; it is not a long-lasting feeling.
3. LOVE AS AN EXAMPLE OF LOYALTY, RESPECT AND FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN MEN
Lastly, love is used in this play as an indication of deep friendship, respect and loyalty between men. here are two examples:
QUOTE FIVE
'I do love Cassio well; and would do much
To cure him of this evil-' (2.3.139-140)
This is Iago - lying as it happens - telling Montano that he loves Cassio and wants him to stop drinking.
We also see Othello use love in the same way:
QUOTE SIX:
'if thou dost love me,
Show me thy thought.' (3.3.118-119)
Here Othello says that if Iago loves him - holds in him deep affection and is loyal to him - he will reveal what he is thinking.
I hope that is useful but do get in touch if you have any more questions.
Greetings from Pakistan. It's really helpful
Very glad to hear that: thank you. And greetings from England!
Do you have any recommendations on how to memorise these quotes? As someone who can normally do this quite well with over texts and dates I've found that these quotes are a lot more complicated and 'wordy'.
It is a very personal thing, but I tend to use the Memory Palace idea to remember lists - for example a list of the plays in order of composition. You can also use a method that involves rhymes to help you remember. There are many books available on Amazon if you search for 'memory techniques'.
this was 9 months ago but oh well, quizlet is very useful -> once you've entered the quotes goto learn mode and it's a big help
#7 Reference line number is incorrect. It should be 384-5
Thank you for spotting that: you are absolutely right. It was a typo that I didn't spot. Apologies.
Thank you so much, I was going mad searching for the Quote :'D
Nice video
Thank you: that's very kind of you to say. Glad it was useful.
can u tell me what is the analysis of othello the character himself in act 3 scene 3
Very helpful thnx Sir,
Very pleased to hear that. Thank you for letting me know.
The play is better than history book.
Me watching this the morning before my paper 2🤭🤣
Same 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Could you do an analysis on the handmaid's tale?
I will add that to the list and see what I can do.
@@DrAidan All right, thanks!
What is the last word the speaker in this video says? An innoculy or anarculy or “an innocule”
Thanks ❤, literally a life saver, #daybeforeexam #guilty😅
No problem, hope it was helpful
This is a wonderful video. I love it so much. Excuse me. I want to ask question. Why act 3 scene 3 is known as the seduction scene or the manipulation scene ?
Thank you: that's very kind of you to say so. The scene is given names like the seduction, manipulation, or temptation scene because this is the scene where Iago tempts Othello into a state of jealousy. It's not one huge revelation but a gradual process of moving Othello from one state - trust in Desdemona - to one where he is jealous and believes she is unfaithful. So it is the gradual nature of the persuasion with a specific goal in in mind that makes it similar to temptation, seduction or manipulation. I hope that's helpful and thanks once again for your kind words.
Anyone else here before the A levels?
Roderigo question amarite
What Makes othello to change character throughout the novel?
He doesn't change character, he just shows his true colours
Don't mind me, I'm just here before the day of my prelim
Thanks for watching. I hope the video was useful and that the prelim goes well.
This isn't the first time I'm watching your videos, it really helped me with my literary essay a few months ago, so thank you for videos and I think I'm ready for the test tomorrow 🧘🏼♂️
Could you say that by referring to Desdemona as a white ewe it highlights her innocence, purity and goodness, and youth, while referring to Othello as an old black ram Iago is suggesting that he is evil, untrustworthy, and (exaggerating) too old and rough for his daughter? Or am I overthinking this x
These lines are always open to interpretation. My personal reading is three-fold. First I think there is a racial element drawing attention to skin colour. Second, black sheep are unusual and so it marks Othello out as different. Third is the cultural reading of a ‘black sheep of the family’ as someone who crosses accepted boundaries of behaviour. As you point out you might also draw attention to the western cultural connotations of the colour white as pure and the colour black as relating to things occult. I hope that’s helpful.
I can't believe Othello's clown is better than us smh
prelims on monday sheesh
I hope they went well.
👍🏾👍🏾
If you are writing your last English p2, let gather here 😊
writing in an hour 😭
Can any one give me some ideas from Othello. I have to do a research paper and I have no ideas
Apologies for not replying earlier.
I would research the area you personally find the most interesting but some topics to think about would be:
a) jealousy, how is it expressed in this play - jealously of social position, or sexual jealousy for example
b) racism: are minorities sometimes accepted for their usefulness (like Othello is as a soldier) but not necessarily fully accepted as a member of society?
c) Truth: how can we know who is telling us the truth? i.e. are we all prone to being deceived in the way that Othello was?
Hope that helps.
Iago is the polar opposite of Popeye
7:31
I need a help with a question
In answer to the question you had about Act 3 Scene 3: this scene is the key turning point in the play. At the beginning Othello loves Desdemona; at the end he is committed to killing her. The scene comprises ten stages that are a mixture of accident, misapprehension and the supreme psychological manipulation of Othello by Iago, who plays on Othello’s insecurities as an outsider in Venetian society. TWO SECTIONS are far longer than the other (I have put the number of lines in each section in brackets). The shorter sections help to create events that Iago uses to his advantage in the two longer sections where he is alone with Othello.
They are:
3.3.1-28 (28 lines)
Cassio asks Desdemona to speak with Othello on his behalf
3.3.29-34 (5 lines)
Othello and Iago enter; Iago notices Cassio leaving
3.3.34-89 (55)
Iago says he doesn’t like ‘that’ (the leaving) and mentions Cassio looking ‘guilty-like’; Desdemona pleads on Cassio’s behalf and reveals Cassio accompanied Othello when he wooed Desdemona; Desdemona succeeds in getting Othello to promise to speak with Cassio
3.3.90-261 (171)
Othello says how much he loves Desdemona; by the end of this section Iago has made a number of comments suggesting Othello is just one of many men who don't realise their wives are having an affair and that they are better off not loving their wives. Iago also makes a number of cultural references about Venice that begin to make Othello feel like an outsider who doesn't fully understand what is going on; Iago also reminds Othello that Desdemona deceived her father by marrying Othello; we know that this is one of the few true things that Iago says and it shakes Othello’s confidence; Iago leaves.
3.3.262-281 (19)
After Iago leaves, Othello reflects that Iago is honest and knows what he is talking about; he thinks that Desdemona’s having an affair because he’s black and lacks the refined habits of the Venetian courtiers ; he curses getting married because he cannot control his wife’s feelings towards him;
3.3.281-293 (12)
Desdemona and Emilia arrive; Othello says his head is hurting and Desdemona says she will wrap her handkerchief round his head to help reduce the pain; he spurns this offer BUT Desdemona DROPS THE HANDKERCHIEF and doesn’t notice.
3.3.294-303 (9) - Emilia picks up the handkerchief and tells us that Iago has wanted her to steal it for some time, although she doesn’t know why; she says she’ll get someone to copy it and Iago can have the copy;
3.3.304-323 (19)
Iago re-enters and Emilia tells him she’s got the handkerchief; he snatches it from her and she says Desdemona will be distraught when she can’t find it; he commands her not to tell Desdemona; Emilia leaves
3.3.324-332 (8)
Iago tells us he will leave the handkerchief where Cassio can find it; the implication is that when Othello discovers that Cassio has it, this will confirm Cassio’s guilt.
3.3.332-482 (150)
Othello returns furious; he’s been thinking about what Iago said previously; he wants proof that Desdemona is guilty; Iago suggests the only real proof is to see her committing adultery with his own eyes (the ‘ocular proof’); Othello recoils at this idea and this allows Iago to suggest a lesser form of proof - what he calls ‘strong circumstances’ otherwise known as circumstantial evidence; Iago says he shared a bed with Cassio and that he heard Cassio talk of Desdemona in his sleep and then Cassio kissed Iago; because Othello thinks Iago is honest he believes this; he then asks if Othello has recently seen the handkerchief he gave to Desdemona - he says he saw Cassio wipe his beard with it; now Othello is convinced and commits to ‘black vengeance’; Othello kneels and swears before heaven to be revenged and uses the simile of his mind being like the currents of the icy Pontic sea, in that his commitment to revenge will be harsh and irresistible; Iago kneels and swears to be Othello’s faithful servant; Othello tells Iago to kill Cassio within three days and Iago accepts the task; Iago asks Othello to spare Desdemona’s life, but Othello says he is going to kill her; he makes Iago his lieutenant (which is the position Iago told us he wanted in the early part of Act One).
Hope that's useful.
Exam in 14 mins
4:31
good video, watched this before seeing the play. one bit of advice, pacing is a bit too slow, could be better as a tighter video, but content is first-rate
Plz in hindi explanation
mara me ion like school anymore😒
hola clase
How can this be ?
Lose sleep
exam for this in an hour