--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In Othello, Othello kills Desdemona, but…" description: "\"In Othello, Othello kills Desdemona, but no one reads that play as a model for their own behavior. In Lou Reed's case, you're listening to a song, and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4f/anthony-decurtis-36451_audience_in-othello-othello-kills-desdemona-but-n_618329.jpg" --- # In Othello, Othello kills Desdemona, but no one reads that… ![“In Othello, Othello kills Desdemona, but no one reads that play as a model for their own behavior. In Lou Reed's case, you're listening to a song, and in my case you're reading about a life. Like Lou, I trust my audience to make their own moral determinations.” quote by Anthony DeCurtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4f/anthony-decurtis-36451_audience_in-othello-othello-kills-desdemona-but-n_618329.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4f/anthony-decurtis-36451_audience_in-othello-othello-kills-desdemona-but-n_618329.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4f/anthony-decurtis-36451_audience_in-othello-othello-kills-desdemona-but-n_618329.jpg) > “In Othello, Othello kills Desdemona, but no one reads that play as a model for their own behavior. In Lou Reed's case, you're listening to a song, and in my case you're reading about a life. Like Lou, I trust my audience to make their own moral determinations.” [Anthony DeCurtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-decurtis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote contrasts how audiences interpret a tragedy versus a song or biography, emphasizing personal moral judgment over prescribed lessons. **In simple terms:** People decide their own morals from art, not follow it as a guide. Key Takeaway Trust audience to interpret meaning themselves. Themes interpretation personal responsibility artistic influence Mood thoughtful critical Type analytical reflective When to use this quote - reading literature - listening to music - personal reflection - ethical decision making Key Concepts moral agency subjective meaning Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure your work invites thoughtful reflection? - What responsibilities do creators have toward audience interpretation? A Different Perspective Audience may lack context, leading to misinterpretation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Determination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determination/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Othello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/othello/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [I am no Othello, Othello was a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tayeb-salih/i-am-no-othello-othello-was-a-lie/) [Tayeb Salih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tayeb-salih/) > [Partying means drinking. It also means playing records by Lou Reed and Chicago, which I thought was a city but is also a band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-currie-jr/partying-means-drinking-it-also-means-playing-records-by-lou-reed-and/) [Ron Currie Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-currie-jr/) > [I do think it's probably true to a certain extent that you tend to sing music that fits your voice. If you're Lou Reed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-thompson/i-do-think-it-s-probably-true-to-a-certain-extent-that-you-tend-to/) [Teddy Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-thompson/) > [The Southern California arena rock, hair metal, laidback hippie garden culture - for many growing up in the '70s and '80s, none of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alissa-quart/the-southern-california-arena-rock-hair-metal-laidback-hippie-garden/) [Alissa Quart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alissa-quart/) > [When I was a kid, my first favorite song was probably Lou Reed's 'Walk on the Wild Side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rapaport/when-i-was-a-kid-my-first-favorite-song-was-probably-lou-reed-s-walk/) [Michael Rapaport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rapaport/) > [“Lou Reed drove Honda scooters these days, and I was a hell of a lot closer to the wild side than him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-moore/lou-reed-drove-honda-scooters-these-days-and-i-was-a-hell-of-a-lot/) [Warren Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-moore/) > [The way Lou Reed wrote and sang about drugs and sex, about the people around him — it was so matter-of-fact,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-casablancas/the-way-lou-reed-wrote-and-sang-about-drugs-and-sex-about-the-people/) [Julian Casablancas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-casablancas/) > [I don't really worship the album 'Transformer.' It's not the best thing that Lou Reed has done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-don-t-really-worship-the-album-transformer-it-s-not-the-best-thing/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > ['Some Kind of Monster' is a challenge, and 'Through the Never' is an extension of that. Even the album we made with Lou Reed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/some-kind-of-monster-is-a-challenge-and-through-the-never-is-an/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [I worked as an artist, played in a band, met Andy Warhol, Christo, Lou Reed, and David Byrne. I had fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lou-jepsen/i-worked-as-an-artist-played-in-a-band-met-andy-warhol-christo-lou/) [Mary Lou Jepsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-jepsen/) > [Usually when I write lyrics I try to read a lot and listen to a lot of other stuff. Some of my favourite lyricists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vanwyngarden/usually-when-i-write-lyrics-i-try-to-read-a-lot-and-listen-to-a-lot/) [Andrew VanWyngarden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vanwyngarden/) > [Most of the time when I have met artists who have meant a lot to me, the experience has been well above expectation. People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/most-of-the-time-when-i-have-met-artists-who-have-meant-a-lot-to-me/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [The period right before punk rock where people like Lou Reed and Iggy Pop were really strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arto-lindsay/the-period-right-before-punk-rock-where-people-like-lou-reed-and-iggy/) [Arto Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arto-lindsay/) > [I learned loudness from working with Lou Reed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/i-learned-loudness-from-working-with-lou-reed/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) > [I don't think I'll ever be able to fully explain the way that the Velvet Underground's records opened a door in my head. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-don-t-think-i-ll-ever-be-able-to-fully-explain-the-way-that-the/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) ## More by Anthony DeCurtis > [It can be nerve wracking if you walk into the interview and you're not sure what to expect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-decurtis/it-can-be-nerve-wracking-if-you-walk-into-the-interview-and-you-re/) [Anthony DeCurtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-decurtis/) > [I think younger artists are often "students" of the rock press. They have their favorite rock star interviews and know how they're supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-decurtis/i-think-younger-artists-are-often-students-of-the-rock-press-they/) [Anthony DeCurtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-decurtis/) > [Doing an interview you're going to have certain things you want to get at, but you're better off if you play to people's strengths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-decurtis/doing-an-interview-you-re-going-to-have-certain-things-you-want-to/) [Anthony DeCurtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-decurtis/) > [People looked to Kurt Cobain because his songs captured what they felt before they knew they felt it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-decurtis/people-looked-to-kurt-cobain-because-his-songs-captured-what-they/) [Anthony DeCurtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-decurtis/) > [Interviewing is a lot like talking, but you have to guide the conversation. You have to know what you want and go about getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-decurtis/interviewing-is-a-lot-like-talking-but-you-have-to-guide-the/) [Anthony DeCurtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-decurtis/) > [I'd say the vast majority of my interview experiences have been pleasant, better than pleasant. But sometimes there will be people who will size…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-decurtis/i-d-say-the-vast-majority-of-my-interview-experiences-have-been/) [Anthony DeCurtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-decurtis/) > [I might ask about the first time a person heard a song that they really responded to, like when I asked Mos Def when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-decurtis/i-might-ask-about-the-first-time-a-person-heard-a-song-that-they/) [Anthony DeCurtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-decurtis/) > [If a musician cares about what he or she is doing, and you show up and care, you can go some place. That will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-decurtis/if-a-musician-cares-about-what-he-or-she-is-doing-and-you-show-up-and/) [Anthony DeCurtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-decurtis/) > [I'd always read a lot about rock 'n' roll growing up, but the first real thing I set out to do was become an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-decurtis/i-d-always-read-a-lot-about-rock-n-roll-growing-up-but-the-first-real/) [Anthony DeCurtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-decurtis/) > [“In fact, among the people I met, the term soviet served essentially as a synonym for 'fucked up'. I'd been in the country about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-decurtis/in-fact-among-the-people-i-met-the-term-soviet-served-essentially-as/) [Anthony DeCurtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-decurtis/) > [When I broke into music journalism it wasn't easy but there was more of an established path. I wanted and was able to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-decurtis/when-i-broke-into-music-journalism-it-wasn-t-easy-but-there-was-more/) [Anthony DeCurtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-decurtis/) > [When I started teaching, I would get miffed if a student asked me to write him or her a recommendation for law school -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-decurtis/when-i-started-teaching-i-would-get-miffed-if-a-student-asked-me-to/) [Anthony DeCurtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-decurtis/) [Explore all 13 Anthony DeCurtis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-decurtis/) ## More Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) [Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In Othello, Othello kills Desdemona, but no one reads that play as a model for their own behavior. In Lou Reed's case, you're listening to a song, and in my case you're reading about a life. 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