“A fellow almost damned in a fair wife; that never set a squadron in the field, nor the division of a battle knows more than a spinster… mere prattle, without practice is all his soldiership.”
Iago – Act 1, Scene 1
Iago mocks Cassio as inexperienced, all talk and no real battle experience.
“To the gross clasps of a lascivious Moor.”
Roderigo – Act 1, Scene 1
Crude, racist description of Othello’s relationship with Desdemona.
“I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at. I am not what I am.”
Iago – Act 1, Scene 1
Iago says open emotion is foolish and admits he lives by deception.
“Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe.”
Iago – Act 1, Scene 1
Shocking animal and racial imagery to inflame Brabantio about the marriage.
“For if such actions may have passage free, bondslaves and pagans shall our statesmen be.”
Brabantio – Act 1, Scene 2
He imagines social order collapsing because his daughter has married Othello.
“A maid so tender, fair and happy, so opposite to marriage that she shunned the wealthy curled darlings of our nation.”
Brabantio – Act 1, Scene 2
Desdemona is presented as innocent and uninterested in rich Venetian suitors.
“I fetch my life and being from men of royal siege.”
Othello – Act 1, Scene 2
Othello claims noble ancestry to establish his status.
“My parts, my title and my perfect soul shall manifest me rightly.”
Othello – Act 1, Scene 2
He trusts his character, rank and record to prove who he is.
“With some mixtures powerful o’er the blood, or with some dram, conjured to this effect, he wrought upon her.”
Brabantio – Act 1, Scene 3
He insists Othello must have used magic or drugs to win Desdemona.
“She loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she did pity them.”
Othello – Act 1, Scene 3
Othello explains their love as based on his stories and her compassion.
“I hate the Moor, and it is thought abroad that ’twixt my sheets he’s 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, Scene 3
Iago claims Othello slept with Emilia; suspicion alone is enough for revenge.
“To vouch this is no proof without more wider and more overt test than these thin habits and poor likelihoods of modern seeming do prefer against him.”
Duke – Act 1, Scene 3
The Duke rejects weak accusations; prejudice does not equal proof.
“To mourn a mischief that is past and gone is the next way to draw new mischief on.”
Duke – Act 1, Scene 3
He warns against dwelling on past wrongs and creating more trouble.