Characters:
Othello - The play’s protagonist and hero. A Christian Moor and general of the
armies of Venice, Othello is an eloquent and physically powerful figure, respected by
all those around him. In spite of his elevated status, he is nevertheless easy prey to
insecurities because of his age, his life as a soldier, and his race. He possesses a
“free and open nature,” which his ensign Iago uses to twist his love for his wife,
Desdemona, into a powerful and destructive jealousy.
Desdemona - The daughter of the Venetian senator Brabanzio. Desdemona and
Othello are secretly married before the play begins. While in many ways
stereotypically pure and meek, Desdemona is also determined and self-possessed.
She is equally capable of defending her marriage, jesting bawdily with Iago, and
responding with dignity to Othello’s incomprehensible jealousy.
Iago - Othello’s ensign (a job also known as an ancient or standard-bearer), and the
villain of the play. Iago is twenty-eight years old. While his ostensible reason for
desiring Othello’s demise is that he has been passed over for promotion to
lieutenant, Iago’s motivations are never very clearly expressed and seem to originate
in an obsessive, almost aesthetic delight in manipulation and destruction.
Cassio - Othello’s lieutenant. Cassio is a young and inexperienced soldier, whose
high position is much resented by Iago. Truly devoted to Othello, Cassio is extremely
ashamed after being implicated in a drunken brawl on Cyprus and losing his place as
lieutenant. Iago uses Cassio’s youth, good looks, and friendship with Desdemona to
play on Othello’s insecurities about Desdemona’s fidelity.
Emilia - Iago’s wife and Desdemona’s attendant. A cynical, worldly woman, she is
deeply attached to her mistress and distrustful of her husband.
Roderigo - A jealous suitor of Desdemona. Young, rich, and foolish, Roderigo is
convinced that if he gives Iago all of his money, Iago will help him win Desdemona’s
hand. Repeatedly frustrated as Othello marries Desdemona and then takes her to
Cyprus, Roderigo is ultimately desperate enough to agree to help Iago kill Cassio
after Iago points out that Cassio is another potential rival for Desdemona.
Brabantio - Desdemona’s father, a somewhat blustering and self-important Venetian
senator. As a friend of Othello, Brabanzio feels betrayed when the general marries
his daughter in secret.
Bianca - A courtesan, or prostitute, in Cyprus. Bianca’s favourite customer is Cassio,
who teases her with promises of marriage.
The Duke of Venice - The official authority in Venice, the duke has great respect for
Othello as a public and military servant. His primary role within the play is to
reconcile Othello and Brabanzio in Act I, scene iii, and then to send Othello to
Cyprus.
Montano - The governor of Cyprus before Othello. We see him first in Act II, as he
recounts the status of the war and awaits the Venetian ships.
Lodovico - One of Brabanzio’s kinsmen, Lodovico acts as a messenger from Venice
to Cyprus. He arrives in Cyprus in Act IV with letters announcing that Othello has
been replaced by Cassio as governor.
Graziano - Brabanzio’s kinsman who accompanies Lodovico to Cyprus. Amidst the
chaos of the final scene, Graziano mentions that Desdemona’s father has died.
The Clown - Othello’s servant. Although the Clown appears only in two short
scenes, his appearances reflect and distort the action and words of the main plots:
his puns on the word “lie” in Act III, scene iv, for example, anticipate Othello’s
confusion of two meanings of that word in Act IV, scene i.
