Othello Willow Song Quotes

Sing all a green willow must be my garland.
Let nobody blame him; his scorn I approve.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 4, Scene 3. In Desdemona’s song, she sings about her garland being "a green willow." This is a reminder of the "green-eyed monster" of Othello’s jealousy that has destroyed the loving relationship between him and Desdemona. She misremembers the second line of the song, which foreshadows her dying words in Act 5, in which she exonerates Othello for her murder and instead takes the blame herself. Asked by Emilia who has killed her, she will say: "Nobody; I myself." The willow tree is traditionally assocated with sadness and mourning.

What did thy song bode, lady?
Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the swan.
And die in music.
[Singing] Willow, willow, willow, –
Moor, she was chaste; she loved thee, cruel Moor.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 5, Scene 2. These are Emilia’s dying words after she is stabbed by her husband Iago for telling the truth about Desdemona’s handkerchief and innocence. Emilia expresses her love for Desdemona and condemns the brutal Othello for killing a woman who truly loved him. Appropriately she sings a line from "The Willow Song" about a woman forsaken by her lover, which was sung earlier by Desdemona shortly before her death. Now Emilia dies while singing it. The reference to playing the swan and dying in music is the ancient belief that swans sing a beautiful song just before their death – hence the saying, swan song.
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