Othello: Character Analysis and Synopsis - Prof. Castillo Martín, Apuntes de Teatro

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Othello

Francisco Javier Castillo

First setting: Venice

Second setting: Cyprus

List of characters

Othello

• A Christian Moor and general of the armies of Venice.
• An eloquent and physically powerful figure, respected by all those around him.
• He is quite self-confident, and proud 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

Iago, Othello’s ancient

Iago

• The villain of the play
• He is twenty-eight years old
• He is Othello’s ensign (a job also known as an ancient or standard-bearer)
• His hatred towards Othello comes from the fact he has been passed over for promotion to lieutenant.
• He also thinks that there has been sex between Othello and Emilia
• But Iago’s motivations are never very clearly expressed and seem to originate in an obsessive delight in manipulation and destruction.

Michael Cassio

• Othello’s lieutenant.
• 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

Brabantio,

Desdemona’s father and a Venetian

senator

Brabantio

• Desdemona’s father.
• A self-important Venetian senator.
• As a friend of Othello, Brabantio feels

betrayed when the general marries his

daughter in secret.

• The archetype of the domineering father, who

has to control all the decisions of the family

and, of course, of Desdemona.

Roderigo

• A Venitian jealous suitor of Desdemona.
• Young, rich, and foolish.
• He is convinced that if he gives Iago all of his money, Iago will help him win Desdemona’s hand.
• He feels frustrated when Othello marries Desdemona and then takes her to Cyprus.
• He is desperate enough to agree to help Iago kill Cassio after Iago points out that Cassio is another potential rival for Desdemona.

Bianca,

Cassio’s mistress