Othello Act 1 Quotes

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"Thieves, thieves! Look to your house, daughter, and your bags!" Act 1 Scene 1
Desdemona is property of her father. 17th Century fathers controlled their daughters. Marriage as a way to gain influence. Triplet- she is a thing to be owned.
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"an old black ram is tupping your white ewe" Act 1 Scene 1
Theme of black and white- black tarnishing the whiteness. Black associated with evil and dirty things- Othello. White associated with purity- Desdemona. 17th Century Venetian society was racist, the moors were not humans. Vulgar language.
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"O treason of the blood! Fathers, from hence trust not your daughter's minds by what you see them act" Act 1 Scene 1
Brabantio is melodramatic and uses emotive language. Addressing the audience, 17th Century fathers will sympathise with him. Family deception. Daughters don't have the freedom to choose their own life.
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"I fetch my life and being from men of royal siege" Act 1 Scene 2
Othello's pride in himself. Othello music. Wants to elevate his position because he is a moor and unworthy to marry Desdemona. Venetian won't care that he is royalty, only that he is a good soldier.
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"Is it they?" Act 1 Scene 2
Othello is literally and metaphorically blind. Iago's deception. Makes it clear to the audience that it is night time, and Othello's age.
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"You shall more command with years than with your weapons" Act 1 Scene 2
Othello music, he's an eloquent speaker. Balanced phrasing. Othello is complimentary and calm in conflict.
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"She shunned the wealthy curled darlings of our nation" Act 1 Scene 2
Looks, money and status are highly valued in Venetian society. Desdemona will only marry for love. She choose Othello, and was able to follow her heart. Desdemona is a wanted 'commodity'.
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"Chains of magic" Act 1 Scene 2
Brabantio thinks that it is impossible that Desdemona would love Othello. 17th Century belief that Africans practise black magic. The handkerchief. Brabantio seems in a frenzy compared to Othello.
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"Valiant Othello" Act 1 Scene 3
Othello is valued and respected. Othello's reputation falls by the end of the play. His value is based on his achievements in war.
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"I won his daughter" Act 1 Scene 3
Desdemona is a prize. Proof of his worth and status. Doesn't lose his temper- controlled speech, in contrast to ending. Othello dominates the narrative, and makes a humble brag.
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"Even fall upon my life" Act 1 Scene 3
Othello has complete faith in Desdemona's love. This becomes eroded later on. Unwavering confidence.
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"She loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she did pity them" Act 1 Scene 3
Noble and decent courtship. They only know the stories of each other. Helen Gardener "virtually strangers". Desdemona craves adventure, Othello craves love. Monologue is hypnotising and eloquent.
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"My noble father, I do perceive her a divided duty" Act 1 Scene 3
Desdemona is respectful and intelligent. She understands her role as a daughter and a wife.
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"Due to the Moor my lord" Act 1 Scene 3
Desdemona accepts that she is subservient to Othello and her father. Calls Othello lord even though she is not obligated to. 17th Century- in Venetian society Desdemona has a higher status than Othello. Ability to put others first.
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"That I did love the Moor to live with him" Act 1 Scene 3
Desdemona is willing to sacrifice for Othello. Wants to choose her own fate and have an adventure. Proclaims her love.
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"I saw Othello's visage in his mind" Act 1 Scene 3
Desdemona fell in love with his mind not body. Truly does love him. Not sexual.
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"It is not to please the palate of my appetite" Act 1 Scene 3
Not carnal desire. Platonic conception. Naivety- virgin?
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"More fair than black" Act 1 Scene 3
Evil and goodness. Shakespeare's use of colour. Visual representation on stage.
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"She has deceived her father and may thee" "My life upon her faith!" Act 1 Scene 3
Loss of trust, foreshadows. Brabantio gets in Othello's mind. Here Othello still trusts Desdemona.
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"Honest Iago" Act 1 Scene 3
Used 40-50 times in the play. Ironic- he is not honest. Dramatic irony. Audience meant to like Iago here. Comical until death and revenge.
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"Drown myself" Act 1 Scene 3
Roderigo is portrayed as a fool. Playing the part of the courtly lover. Melodramatic despair. Prose becomes more informal. Break from longer monologues. Easily manipulated by Iago.
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"These Moors are changeable in their wills" Act 1 Scene 3
Iago has no respect. Derogatory terms. Audience may have agreed. Appealing to the masses.
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"If thou canst cuckold him, thou dost thyself a pleasure, me a sport" Act 1 Scene 3
Typical 17th Century term. Iago takes pleasure in causing chaos.
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"Twixt my sheets he's done my office" Act 1 Scene 3
Iago soliloquy. True thoughts. "Motiveless malignancy". Opportunist. Rumoured to have slept with wife- sympathy. Reveals his plan to deceive Othello.
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"Hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light" Act 1 Scene 3
Heroic couplets. Incantation. Harness the powers of evil. Darkness and light. Beauty has been twisted and sin is born. Dramatic conclusion to the scene.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Theme of black and white- black tarnishing the whiteness. Black associated with evil and dirty things- Othello. White associated with purity- Desdemona. 17th Century Venetian society was racist, the moors were not humans. Vulgar language.

Back

"an old black ram is tupping your white ewe" Act 1 Scene 1

Card 3

Front

Brabantio is melodramatic and uses emotive language. Addressing the audience, 17th Century fathers will sympathise with him. Family deception. Daughters don't have the freedom to choose their own life.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Othello's pride in himself. Othello music. Wants to elevate his position because he is a moor and unworthy to marry Desdemona. Venetian won't care that he is royalty, only that he is a good soldier.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Othello is literally and metaphorically blind. Iago's deception. Makes it clear to the audience that it is night time, and Othello's age.

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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