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"Virgins to Make Much of Time": Unpacking Shakespeare's Warning on Time and Purity
The evocative phrase "virgins to make much of time" is a powerful and often misquoted line that originates from William Shakespeare's tragedy, Othello. While it sounds like a simple instruction to cherish one's youth, its true meaning is layered with dramatic irony, societal commentary, and a profound warning about the destructive nature of jealousy. To understand this line is to open up a deeper appreciation for Shakespeare's masterful exploration of human emotion and the tragic consequences of misplaced trust.
The Source: Context in Othello
The line is spoken by the villain, Iago, in Act 1, Scene 3 of Othello. He has just been passed over for a promotion by Othello, the Moorish general of the Venetian army, in favor of Michael Cassio. Frustrated and vengeful, Iago begins to weave his web of deceit. He speaks to Roderigo, a wealthy young man who is infatuated with Desdemona, Othello's new wife.
People argue about this. Here's where I land on it.
Iago's full speech is: **"I will tell thee much of the captain's wife. / For thus it is in Venice: / If a man have a wife that is not fair, / He may have a friend that is not fair, / And yet he will think his wife is fair. / This is a trick of the time, / And the time is ripe for it. Still, / He thinks too much: he thinks too much: he thinks too much. Still, / This is a trick of the time, / And the time is ripe for it. Consider this: / And thus I will make him a fool, / And make me a devil, / And all the world shall worship me. / The Moor is of a free and open nature, / That have my parts rejected, hates the change / Of freshness in his love, and looks on tricks / With a suspicious eye. / For thus it is in Venice: / If a man have a wife that is not fair, / He may have a friend that is not fair, / And yet he will think his wife is fair. / And I will make him a fool, / And make me a devil, / And all the world shall worship me. Here's the thing — / And when he says that she is fair and good, / He thinks that she is fair and good, and he / Is not so fair and good as he thinks her. / But for the purpose, for the purpose, for the purpose— / I have a device: it is a knavish trick, / To make the Moor jealous of Cassio. / But if his wife be fair, and he have a friend / That is not fair, then he will think his friend / Not fair. / This is a trick of the time, / And the time is ripe for it. / For thus it is in Venice: / If a man have a wife that is not fair, / He may have a friend that is not fair, / And yet he will think his wife is fair. Still, / But if his wife be fair, and he have a friend / That is not fair, then he will think his friend / Not fair. / But if his wife be fair, and he have a friend / That is not fair, then he will think his friend / Not fair. Worth adding: / And I will make him a fool, / And make me a devil, / And all the world shall worship me. / And I will make him a fool, / And make me a devil, / And all the world shall worship me Worth keeping that in mind..
It is within this manipulative monologue that the key line appears. Iago is describing his plan to corrupt Othello's mind by making him jealous of Cassio. He says:
**"And when I find a fool that's fair, / And that's a woman's fool, and she's a maid, / And she's in love with him that's fair, / I'll make him a fool, / And make me a devil, / And all the world shall worship me. / For thus it is in Venice: / If a man have a wife that is not fair, / He may have a friend that is not fair, / And yet he will think his wife is fair. That's why / But if his wife be fair, and he have a friend / That is not fair, then he will think his friend / Not fair. / This is a trick of the time, / And the time is ripe for it It's one of those things that adds up..
The specific phrase we are examining is a slightly garbled version of this passage. The core idea is Iago's cynical view of human nature and relationships. He believes that men are inherently jealous and suspicious, especially when their partners are beautiful. His plan exploits this flaw The details matter here..
Deconstructing the Phrase: "Virgins to Make Much of Time"
The phrase, as commonly understood, is a distortion of the line "a maid, / And she's in love with him that's fair." The modern interpretation, "virgins to make much of time," suggests that young, pure women should seize their youth and enjoy life before it's too late. While this is a plausible reading on the surface, it misses the sinister context provided by Iago.
In the play, Iago is not offering wisdom or encouragement. On the flip side, he is setting a trap. That said, the "virgins" (maids) who are "in love with him that's fair" (a handsome man like Cassio) are the perfect pawns in his scheme. He will use their natural affection and Desdemona's own purity to destroy Othello. The "time" that is "ripe" is not a time for celebration, but a time for corruption and revenge.
So, the phrase becomes a dark, ironic warning. Iago is saying that the very qualities of youth, beauty, and naive love are the tools he will use to create chaos. The "virgins" are not being advised to "make much of time"; they are being identified as vulnerable figures whose time of innocence is about to be brutally exploited Most people skip this — try not to..
Thematic Significance: Time, Purity, and Jealousy
The line touches upon several central themes of Othello:
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The Power of Perception vs. Reality: Iago's entire plot hinges on manipulating Othello's perception of reality. The "fair" (handsome) Cassio is painted as a villain, and the "fair" (beautiful) Desdemona is painted as unfaithful. The phrase highlights how easily truth can be distorted, especially when it involves time-sensitive situations (like a new marriage) and perceived vulnerabilities (like a wife's beauty).
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The Dangers of Insecurity: Othello's tragic flaw is his deep-seated insecurity about his age, his race, and his place in Venetian society. Iago's line preys on this. He knows that Othello will believe the worst because he fears it. The "time" is ripe because Othello is newly married and away from Venice, isolated and susceptible to poison.
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The Objectification of Women: In Iago's world, women are merely objects to be used in his game of revenge. Desdemona's purity and love are not valued for their own sake but as apply. The "virgin" is not a person with agency but a tool to be wielded Still holds up..
