Act 5 Scene 1 Quote Analysis

Rachel Igoe

English Honors

G- Period

17 November 2010

Quote Analysis Act 5 Scene 1

            “ ‘Tis he! O brave Iago, honest and just, / That hast such noble sense of thy friend’s wrong! / Thou teachest me.-Minion, your dear lies dead, / And your unblest fate hies. Strumpet, I come” (V.i.34-37)

            During this scene Othello finds Cassio screaming for help because Iago stabbed him in the leg; however Cassio is unaware that Iago was the one to stab him. Othello comments on how honest and trustworthy Iago is, but he is mistaken because Iago is the one that has caused his feelings of jealousy. He says that Iago is so reliable that he even went as far to help him murder Cassio. Iago was not trying to Cassio to help Othello, he was doing it for himself because he desires for Cassio’s position. Othello does not realize how evil Iago truly his because Iago always brings himself up as a trustful person and every time he appears to be helping the situation, but he only makes it worse. Othello also says that Iago teaches how he should act, but it is ironic because if Othello knew what Iago was doing he would never want to act like him. He says that his lover is dead, referring to Desdemona, and Cassio will soon be too.