Othello Characters

Bianca:

Bianca is a courtesan (prostitute) living in Cyprus. She becomes romantically involved with Cassio, who enjoys her company but only on a physical level. When Bianca finds the handkerchief in Cassio’s bed—the same handkerchief Othello gave to Desdemona—she believes that Cassio has been unfaithful to her. However, this handkerchief was planted by Iago as false evidence to make it seem like Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair.

Bianca, although jealous, is not taken seriously by Cassio, who dismisses her as someone outside of his personal and emotional life. She represents someone living on the margins of society, fulfilling Cassio’s physical needs but never being truly valued by him. Ironically, when Cassio is talking about Bianca with Iago, Othello overhears and mistakenly thinks that Cassio is talking about Desdemona, further fueling Othello’s jealousy and misunderstanding.

Brabantio:

Brabantio is a Venetian senator and the father of Desdemona. He initially sees Othello as a friend, but when he discovers that Othello has married his daughter, he feels deeply betrayed. Brabantio accuses Othello of using magic to win Desdemona’s love and wants him jailed, treating the marriage as if it were a crime. However, when they bring the case before the duke, Brabantio is forced to back down because the duke holds Othello in high regard and needs him to defend Cyprus.

Brabantio’s character is proud and self-important, and he feels dishonored by his daughter’s secret marriage. He warns Othello that since Desdemona has betrayed her father, she might betray her husband as well, a statement that foreshadows the tragic events to come. After Desdemona leaves for Cyprus with Othello, Brabantio dies, his grief contributing to his downfall.

Michael Cassio:

Cassio is Othello’s lieutenant, promoted over Iago, which sparks Iago’s jealousy and drives his plot for revenge. Cassio is young and inexperienced, and Iago deeply resents his higher position. Despite his loyalty to Othello, Cassio becomes ashamed after getting involved in a drunken fight during Othello’s wedding celebration in Cyprus. This incident leads Othello to strip Cassio of his rank and dismiss him from his position.

Iago, seizing the opportunity, advises Cassio to ask Desdemona to speak to Othello on his behalf. This is part of Iago’s scheme to make it appear as though Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair, even though no such relationship exists. Iago successfully deceives Othello, making him believe that Cassio is romantically involved with Desdemona.

Unlike the manipulative and sinister Iago, Cassio is a genuine gentleman who respects and cares for Othello and Desdemona. He is honest but becomes entangled in Iago’s schemes. Cassio is nearly killed by Roderigo and Iago as part of the plot. However, by the end of the play, after Othello’s murder of Desdemona is revealed, Cassio prevails and is appointed as the new governor of Cyprus.

Desdemona:

Desdemona is Brabantio’s daughter. She secretly marries Othello and goes with him to Cyprus. After Cassio loses his position, she speaks on his behalf, which Othello takes as proof of Iago’s lies that she’s unfaithful and having an affair with Cassio. Desdemona is often viewed as a pure and innocent woman, full of love and loyalty, which contrasts sharply with Iago’s evil nature.

Her role is quite simple and clear. While she does defy her father, she is more submissive with Othello. She cannot imagine being unfaithful, even when her maid Emilia suggests many women do. Desdemona is drawn to Othello, possibly to the point of being blind to his jealousy, and she doesn’t fight much for her life. Instead, she nearly accepts Othello’s decision that she must die, only asking for one more day.

Duke of Venice:

The Duke is the leader of the Venetian Council and holds official authority in Venice. He highly respects Othello for his public service and military achievements. The Duke’s main role in the play is to help resolve the conflict between Othello and Brabantio. Through this, the audience sees Othello as a noble and brave general. The Duke’s positive view of Othello contrasts with the negative descriptions given by Brabantio and Iago. It is during the Duke’s court that Othello gives his most powerful speech in the play.

Emilia:

Emilia is Iago’s wife and serves as Desdemona’s attendant. She hands over Desdemona’s handkerchief to Iago, who had asked her to take it. After Othello kills Desdemona, Emilia exposes Desdemona’s innocence and is fatally wounded by Iago for telling the truth. Emilia is a cynical and worldly woman, loyal to Desdemona but suspicious of her own husband. Through her, Desdemona gains a more realistic view of life. The marriage between Emilia and Iago contrasts with that of Desdemona and Othello. Iago mistreats Emilia, showing no affection, while Desdemona and Othello’s love appears genuine until Iago’s schemes ruin it.

Iago:

Iago is a soldier serving under Othello, but when Othello promotes Cassio over him, Iago feels betrayed and plots revenge against both men. Iago is a skilled manipulator, planting ideas in people’s minds and making them believe they came up with them on their own. He tricks Cassio into drinking on duty, leading to a fight, and strings Roderigo along, taking money from him for false promises. These characters are mere pawns in Iago’s schemes, but his greatest accomplishment is orchestrating Othello’s downfall.

Iago is one of Shakespeare’s most villainous characters, often compared to the devil. His intelligence, cunning, and lack of conscience make him particularly dangerous. He is quick to act on his plans and is indifferent to the consequences. Iago admits that his actions are purely self-serving, showing no morals or loyalty, even manipulating his wife into stealing for him. His web of lies is so intricate that it’s remarkable he can keep track of all his deceit.

Critics have long debated Iago’s motives. Is his goal simply to gain the rank of lieutenant? Is he jealous of Othello or does he desire Desdemona? Or is he driven by a hunger for power and a fascination with his ability to manipulate others? Some believe Iago is simply evil, acting immorally just for the sake of it. Initially, actors preferred the role of Othello, but over time, the complexity of Iago’s character has drawn more interest, with actors often alternating between the two roles. Some critics argue that Iago is even more complex than Othello.

Lodovico:

Lodovico is Desdemona’s uncle and serves as a messenger from Venice to Cyprus. He arrives in Cyprus during Act 4, bringing letters that state Othello has been replaced by Cassio as governor. When Lodovico witnesses Othello slapping Desdemona, he is taken aback and expresses concern about Othello’s behavior, asking Iago about Othello’s mental stability.

Montano:

Montano is the governor of Cyprus before Othello takes over. He first appears at the start of Act 3, worried about Othello’s safety as a violent storm hits Cyprus. Montano is concerned that Othello’s ships may have been wrecked, which would leave the island defenseless against a potential Turkish invasion.

Othello:

Othello is the Protagonist of Shakespeare’s play Othello. He is a Moorish general in the Venetian army, highly respected for his military skills and leadership. Despite his high status, Othello faces racial prejudice because of his skin color and foreign background. He marries Desdemona, the daughter of a Venetian nobleman, Brabantio, against her father’s wishes.

Othello is deeply in love with Desdemona, but his insecurities make him vulnerable to manipulation. Iago, one of Othello’s soldiers, resents him for promoting Cassio to lieutenant over him. Driven by jealousy and ambition, Iago orchestrates a plot to destroy Othello by convincing him that Desdemona is unfaithful with Cassio. Othello, consumed by jealousy and doubt, becomes increasingly erratic, leading to his tragic downfall.

Othello’s character is complex: he is noble, brave, and honorable, yet his deep-seated insecurities and trust in the wrong people make him prone to jealousy and rage. His transformation from a confident leader to a man blinded by jealousy is one of the key elements of the tragedy. By the end of the play, Othello realizes his mistake in believing Iago’s lies, but it is too late, as he has already killed Desdemona. Overcome with guilt and grief, Othello takes his own life.

Othello’s journey explores themes of love, jealousy, betrayal, racism, and the tragic consequences of trusting appearances over reality.

Roderigo:

Roderigo is a suitor who unsuccessfully tries to win Desdemona’s love. He becomes a pawn in Iago’s schemes and is manipulated into doing Iago’s dirty work. Roderigo tries to kill Cassio but fails, getting wounded himself in the process. To keep Roderigo from exposing his lies, Iago eventually kills him.

Throughout the play, Roderigo pays Iago, believing that Iago will help him win Desdemona’s affection. He is easily manipulated and doesn’t think for himself, relying completely on Iago’s advice. Roderigo swings between frustration and hope, and at times, becomes so desperate that he considers suicide. In the end, Iago convinces Roderigo to help him kill Cassio by making Roderigo see Cassio as a rival for Desdemona’s love.