Othello Sight and Blindness Quotes

Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see:
She has deceived her father, and may thee.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 1, Scene 3. Brabantio warns Othello that Desdemona has deceived her father and will likely betray Othello as well. Brabantio is unfairly painting his daughter as a deceiver, and perpetuating the stereotype of women in general as deceivers of men. He is also planting a seed of doubt in Othello’s mind about his wife’s trustworthiness, foreshadowing later tragic events when Iago uses Brabantio’s words to persuade Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful to him.

IAGO: He hath not yet made wanton the night with her; and she is sport for Jove.
CASSIO: She’s a most exquisite lady.
IAGO: And, I’ll warrant her, fun of game.
CASSIO: Indeed, she’s a most fresh and delicate creature.
IAGO: What an eye she has! methinks it sounds a parley of provocation.
CASSIO: An inviting eye; and yet methinks right modest.
IAGO: And when she speaks, is it not an alarum to love?
CASSIO: She is indeed perfection.
IAGO: Well, happiness to their sheets! Come, lieutenant, I have a stoup of wine; and here without are a brace of Cyprus gallants that would fain have a measure to the health of black Othello.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 2, Scene 3. Iago attempts to manipulate Cassio into making sexual advances towards Desdemona. Ever the misogynist, Iago suggests that she is great in bed, looks provocatively at men and is full of game. But Cassio, always the gentleman, shows his respect for women by not rising to the bait. Instead he says that Desdemona has a "modest" eye, is "most exquisite" and "indeed perfection." He refuses to rise to Iago’s bait and speak of her as a sexual object. Iago then proceeds with his plan to get Cassio drunk on wine, by inviting him to toast his boss Othello.

It were well
The general were put in mind of it.
Perhaps he sees it not; or his good nature
Prizes the virtue that appears in Cassio,
And looks not on his evils.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 2, Scene 3. After Iago manipulates Cassio into drinking too much wine, Montano believes that Othello must be informed of his drunken behavior. The theme of appearance vs reality is in evidence here, as Montano says that Othello may be blinded to Cassio’s excessive drinking by his good nature and Cassio’s virtue. This passage illustrates the motifs of sight and blindness. Ironically it’s not Othello’s failure to see Cassio’s flaws that Montano should worry about, but rather those of the devious Iago. One of Othello’s biggest flaws is that he is a poor judge of character and he has a huge blind spot where Iago is concerned.

Why, why is this? Think’st thou I’d make a life of jealousy,
To follow still the changes of the moon
With fresh suspicions? No; to be once in doubt
Is once to be resolved: exchange me for a goat,
When I shall turn the business of my soul
To such exsufflicate and blown surmises,
Matching thy inference. ‘Tis not to make me jealous
To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company,
Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances well;
Where virtue is, these are more virtuous:
Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw
The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt;
For she had eyes, and chose me.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 3, Scene 3. Othello’s speech to Iago warning about the dangers of the "green-eyed monster" jealousy shows his excessive pride. Claiming that he will not be destroyed by jealousy, he proudly asserts that Desdemona had eyes to see that he was black and she chose him. In declaring that he is beyond jealousy Othello shows one of his fatal flaws, his hubris, which eventually helps bring about his downfall.

For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago;
I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
And on the proof, there is no more but this, –
Away at once with love or jealousy!

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 3, Scene 3. Othello reassures himself that he has no need for jealousy of Desdemona since she saw him for who he was and chose him for a husband. But when he talks of needing evidence of Desdemona’s cheating before he no longer loves her, he appears to consider the possibility of being wrong about her fidelity. Is Othello already on the way to believing Iago’s lies? He certainly seems to be.

Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore,
Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof:
Or by the worth of man’s eternal soul,
Thou hadst been better have been born a dog
Than answer my waked wrath!

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 3, Scene 3. Othello demands that Iago gives him visual proof of his wife’s supposed adultery. As far as Othello is concerned, at least at this stage, the alleged crime has to be seen before he will believe it. Iago of course offers no proof but continues to use insinuation, innuendo and the handkerchief given to Desdemona to plant suspicion into Othello’s mind.

My noble Moor
Is true of mind and made of no such baseness
As jealous creatures are, it were enough
To put him to ill thinking.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 3, Scene 4. Desdemona tells Emilia that Othello is too noble a man to succumb to such a base emotion as jealousy over a missing handkerchief. This is highly ironic. What Desdemona doesn’t realize is that her husband is in a jealous rage, incited by Iago, and it will be further fueled by the loss of this precious item. But she is blind to Othello’s jealousy. The innocent and trusting Desdemona has an idealistic view of him, wrongly believing that he won’t react badly.

Every day thou daffest me with some device, Iago; and rather, as it seems to me now, keepest from me all conveniency than suppliest me with the least advantage of hope. I will indeed no longer endure it, nor am I yet persuaded to put up in peace what already I have foolishly suffered.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 4, Scene 2. In his bid to win Desdemona, a frustrated Roderigo tells Iago that he keeps making him promises to facilitate this but coming up with excuses instead. He stands up to Iago by warning him that he won’t put up with this anymore. Iago has been cleverly manipulating and sweet talking the foolish Roderigo out of his money, while promising to help him win Desdemona’s affection. Slow-witted and blind, Roderigo is only now beginning to see that Iago has been deceiving and playing him.

I have wasted myself out of my means. The jewels you have had from me to deliver to Desdemona would half have corrupted a votarist: you have told me she hath received them and returned me expectations and comforts of sudden respect and acquaintance, but I find none.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 4, Scene 2. The penny finally drops for Roderigo. He is upset with Iago because he wasted all his money and sent enough jewels to Desdemona via Iago to corrupt a nun. But Iago’s promise that Desdemona would return some sign of affection never materialized. The scales have fallen from Roderigo’s eyes and he realizes that Iago has manipulated and tricked him.

O perjured woman! thou dost stone my heart,
And makest me call what I intend to do
A murder, which I thought a sacrifice.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 5, Scene 2. Othello accuses Desdemona of perjury after she denies giving her handkerchief to Cassio, explaining that Cassio must have found it. Othello prefers to believe that she was unfaithful because he saw the handkerchief in Cassio’s hand. He dismisses his wife’s plea to send for Cassio to find out the truth. The blinded Othello proceeds to act as judge, jury and executioner. He believes that he is not a murderer but a deliverer of justice. Metaphors play a big part in the play, with Othello using one to say that his wife has turned his heart to stone.

OTHELLO: She’s, like a liar, gone to burning hell:
‘Twas I that kill’d her.
EMILIA: O, the more angel she,
And you the blacker devil!

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 5, Scene 2. Othello tries to justify his murder of Desdemona. His blindness causes him to see her as a cheat and liar now burning in hell for her sin, when she is the very opposite. Emilia the loyal handmaid of Desdemona is horrified. She immediately springs to the defense of her innocent mistress and bravely challenges Othello. Using contrasting metaphors, she compares Desdemona to an angel and brands Othello a black devil. She believes that Othello’s sense of right and wrong is reversed, seeing black and evil as good, and white and goodness as bad.

Had she been true,
If heaven would make me such another world
Of one entire and perfect chrysolite,
I’d not have sold her for it.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 5, Scene 2. Othello justifies himself to Emilia for the killing of Desdemona, because he believes that his wife was false. His love for Desdemona and sense of loss is apparent, as he says that he would not have traded a faithful Desdemona for a world of precious gemstones. This shows the conflict within Othello, whose world would have been perfect if his wife had remained faithful. It also demonstrates his blindness, since Desdemona was true to him.

Disprove this villain, if thou be’st a man:
He says thou told’st him that his wife was false:
I know thou didst not, thou ‘rt not such a villain:
Speak, for my heart is full.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 5, Scene 2. Emilia has shown blind loyalty towards her husband Iago. She demands that he speak up and prove false Othello’s claim that Iago told him about Desdemona’s infidelity. Still naively believing in Iago, she cannot accept that she could be married to such a villain. This is an example of dramatic irony, Iago’s villainy being already known to the audience.

Then, must you speak
Of one that loved not wisely but too well;
Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought
Perplex’d in the extreme; of one whose hand,
Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away
Richer than all his tribe.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 5, Scene 2. The veil of blindness is finally lifted from Othello’s eyes as he realizes he has been manipulated and duped by Iago. But the terrible truth dawns on him too late and only after he has smothered his innocent wife. In his final suicide speech, he takes responsibility for his actions, putting them down to his too passionate a love for Desdemona and being tricked into extreme jealousy. A metaphor compares Desdemona and her purity and preciousness to a white pearl, which Othello acknowledges he threw away by killing her. Using derogatory and racist language, he likens himself in a simile to a low-class savage, viewing himself as very much the outsider from a different race. In Shakespeare’s Folio version of the play "base Indian" reads "base Judean," sometimes taken as a reference to Judas who betrayed Jesus. Othello is attempting to salvage some of his good name and reputation here.

O Spartan dog,
More fell than anguish, hunger, or the sea!
Look on the tragic loading of this bed;
This is thy work: the object poisons sight;
Let it be hid.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 5, Scene 2. Lodovico addresses Iago and points to the tragic results of his jealous and poisonous manipulation and deception – the deaths of Desdemona, Othello and Emilia. In this pitiful scene, he vilifies Iago with a metaphor, comparing him to a bloodthirsty dog from the ancient Greek city state of Sparta. Spartan dogs were trained to hunt and kill, so Iago’s comparison to them highlights his inhumanity. Lodovico orders the bodies to be covered and hid from sight, as they are worse than pain, hunger and the stormy sea.
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