Othello
Written: 1603-1604; Texts: Quarto 1622, First Folio 1623 (Tragedy)
Source: Cinthio (Giovanni Battista Giraldi.1504-73). Hecatommithi (1565. No English translations found, therefore, Shakespeare probably read it either in Italian or French.) Book 2, 7th story of “Disdemona and the Moor”; Pliny, the Elder (23-79). Naturalia Historia (Philemon Holland's translation in 1601); Africanus, Leo. A Geographical History of Africa (English translation by John Pory, 1600)
Characters: Iago, Othello, Desdamona, Emilia, Cassio, Brabantio, Roderigo, Lodovico, Duke of Venice
Setting: Venice, Cypress
Time: AD 1570 (when Cyprus was invaded by the Turks)
Xxx xxx
Notes on Othello
Better Angels
Read the NoteThe only mention in any of Shakespeare’s plays of the “better angel” is in Othello (5.2.235), when Gratiano, speaking over Desdemona’s body, speaks of her father:
Did he live now,
This sight would make him do a desperate turn,
Yea, curse his better angel from his side,
Shakespeare makes another mention of the “better angel”
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Keeping Adultery Hidden
Read the NoteIn comedy or tragedy, Shakespeare’s characters advise the prudence of spouses keeping their dalliances hidden. In Comedy of Errors, Luciana advises Antipholus of Syracuse, who she thinks is her brother-in-law, to conceal from his presumed wife Adriana, Luciana’s sister, his apparent infidelity. Iago’s observation about the adulteries of Venetian women in Othello, is similar.
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Quotes from Othello
Tush, never tell me! I take it much unkindly
Read the QuoteRoderigo
Tush, never tell me! I take it much unkindly
That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse
As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this.
Iago
’Sblood, but you’ll not hear me!
If ever I did dream of such a matter,
Abhor me.
Roderigo
Thou toldst me thou didst hold him in thy hate.
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Zounds, sir, you’re robbed
Read the QuoteIago
Zounds, sir, you’re robbed. For shame, put on your gown!
Your heart is burst. You have lost half your soul.
Even now, now, very now, an old black ram
Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise!
Awake the snorting citizens with the bell,
Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you.
Arise, I say!
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Her father loved me, oft invited me
Read the QuoteHer father loved me, oft invited me,
Still questioned me the story of my life
From year to year—the battles, sieges, fortunes
That I have passed.
I ran it through, even from my boyish days
To th’ very moment that he bade me tell it,
Wherein I spoke of most disastrous chances:
Of moving accidents by flood and field,
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Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors
Read the QuoteOthello
Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors,
My very noble and approved good masters:
That I have ta’en away this old man’s daughter,
It is most true; true I have married her.
The very head and front of my offending
Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech,
And little blessed with the soft phrase of peace;
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I pray you hear her speak
Read the QuoteBrabantio
I pray you hear her speak.
If she confess that she was half the wooer,
Destruction on my head if my bad blame
Light on the man.—Come hither, gentle mistress.
Do you perceive in all this noble company
Where most you owe obedience?
Desdemona
My noble father,
I do perceive here a divided duty.
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Most gracious duke, To my unfolding lend your prosperous ear
Read the QuoteDesdemona
Most gracious duke,
To my unfolding lend your prosperous ear
And let me find a charter in your voice
T’ assist my simpleness.
Duke
What would you, Desdemona?
Desdemona
That I love the Moor to live with him
My downright violence and storm of fortunes
May trumpet to the world.
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At nine i’ th’ morning here we’ll meet again
Read the QuoteDuke
At nine i’ th’ morning here we’ll meet again.
Othello, leave some officer behind
And he shall our commission bring to you,
With such things else of quality and respect
As doth import you.
Othello
So please your Grace, my ancient.
A man he is of honesty and trust.
To his conveyance I assign my wife,
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I will incontinently drown myself
Read the QuoteRoderigo
I will incontinently drown myself.
Iago
If thou dost, I shall never love thee after. Why,
thou silly gentleman!
Roderigo
It is silliness to live, when to live is torment,
and then have we a prescription to die when death is
our physician.
Iago
O, villainous!
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Thus do I ever make my fool my purse
Read the QuoteThus do I ever make my fool my purse.
For I mine own gained knowledge should profane
If I would time expend with such a snipe
But for my sport and profit. 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,
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What from the cape can you discern at sea?
Read the QuoteMontano
What from the cape can you discern at sea?
First Gentleman
Nothing at all. It is a high-wrought flood.
I cannot ‘twixt the heaven and the main
Descry a sail.
Montano
Methinks the wind hath spoke aloud at land.
A fuller blast ne’er shook our battlements.
If it hath ruffianed so upon the sea,
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