ACT 3 Scene 3 – Key Quotes Exam Focus
Act 3 Scene 3 can be used successfully in response to a range of examination questions about the play’s central themes, characters, relationships and the playwright’s dramatic style.
This key scene has significant dramatic functions: Š Presents the fateful meeting of Desdemona, Cassio and Emilia. Š Illustrates the opportunistic capabilities and villainy of Iago. Š Details the degradation of Othello. Š Develops themes of appearance and reality, jealousy, reputation/dishonour.
Š Effectively uses animal imagery to inflame, cheating imagery to ridicule, hellish imagery to terrify.
Š Appals the audience by Iago’s clever conspiracies and the grains of truth contained in his cynical views of the world.
Š Marks a turning point in the play.
Key Quotes
That I being absent, and my place supplied, My general will forget my love and service
(Cassio to Desdemona) l.19–20
O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster
(Iago to Othello) l.186–7
Thou has set me on the rack (Othello to Iago) l.372
Cassio doubts the power of his friendship with Othello. He urges Desdemona to persuade her husband to reinstate him as lieutenant. This crucial development initiates the play’s tragic outcome. Desdemona is about to put herself in great danger. Ironically, It was Iago who first suggested this course of action to Cassio.
Iago pretends to be a loyal friend. His vividly poetic advice both provokes and warns Othello about losing self- control. What he says is brutally effective and foreshadows the tragedy ahead for a husband consumed with jealousy.
Othello complains that he is the victim of torture. He is intensely aware that he has sacrificed his peace of mind because he has believed Iago’s rumours about Desdemona’s apparent infidelity. Othello believes that he has lost his friend, his wife and his career because he has become a slave to suspicion and vengeance.
give me the ocular proof (Othello to Iago) l.398
This moment marks a key turning point in the play. Troubled and distraught, Othello demands proof of his wife’s adultery. Iago is now under pressure to produce tangible evidence to support his accusations. The Moor is a professional soldier who has a simplistic view of the world. His desire for justice will have disastrous consequences.
I am your own for ever (Iago to Othello) l.529
Iago’s deeply ironic statement uses the chilling language of love and marriage. Yet Othello has lost all trust in his young wife and the audience now understands that it is Othello who is tragically tied to Iago. Indeed, Othello will never be able to escape from his hypocritical ensign and his devious schemes.
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