| Othello | Protagonist, tragic hero. Christian Moor. Respected, powerful figure because of his life as a soldier. Easy to pray on his insecurities. Insecure about his age, his race, cultural outsider. |
| Desdemona | Daughter of a Venetian senator (Brabanzio). Secretly marries Othello before play begins. Determined/self possessed. |
| Iago | Villain/Antagonist. Othello’s ensign (junior rank of commission officer). Mad/angry because he was passed over for promotion to Cassio. Gets a satisfaction from manipulating/destruction. |
| Cassio | Othello’s lieutenant. Young, unexperienced soldier. Iago resents him because of promotion. Ashamed after a drunken brawl. Good looking and friends with Desdemona. |
| Emilia | Iago’s wife. Desdemona’s mistress (works for her). Loyal to Desdemona. Not trustful of Iago. |
| Roderigo | Jealous suiter of Desdemona. Young, rich, and foolish. He thinks that if he gives Iago money he will help him get Desdemona. He is desperate since she married. |
| Bianca | A courtesan/prostitute. |
| Brabanzio | Desdemona’s father. Venetian senator. As a friend of Othello’s he feels betrayed when the general marries his daughter. |
| Duke of Venice | Official authority in Venice. Great respect for Othello. Primary role is to try to reunite Othello and Brabanzio. Sends Othello to Cyprus. |
| Montano | Governor of Cyprus before Othello. In Act 2, he recounts the status of the war and awaits the Venetian ships. |
| Lodovico | Brabanzio’s kingsmen. Messenger from Venice to Cyprus. Arrives in Cyprus with letters saying that Othello has been replaced by Cassio. |
| Graziano | Brabanzio’s kingsmen. |
| Clown | Othello’s servant. His appearance reflects and distort the action. |
| True | Roderigo had hoped to marry Desdemona |
| False | Iago is angry that Othello made Roderigo his new lieutenant. |
| False | Brabantio is angry that his daughter eloped with a man he had never even met |
| True | The main reason that Brabantio does not want Othello as a son-in-law is that Othello is dark-skinned. |
| True | Brabantio finds Othello and accuses him of putting Desdemona under a spell |
| False | The Duke orders Othello banished to Cyprus for running of with Brabantio’s daughter |
| True | Othello arranges to have Iago accompany Desdemona to Cyprus. |
| True | Iago suspects Othello of having had an affair with Emilia, Iago’s wife. |
| False | Roderigo suggests that he and Iago set up Cassio to make it look as if Cassio and Desdemona are lovers |
| False | A celebration is held in honor of Othello’s military victory over the Venetians. |
| False | Cassio gets drunk because he loves Desdemona and is jealous of Othello for marrying her. |
| True | Iago convinces Roderigo to pick a fight with Cassio |
| False | Cassio is demoted for talking back to Othello |
| False | The governor is wounded from behind by Iago |
| True | Iago convinces Cassio to ask Desdemona to speak to Othello in Cassio’s behlaf |
Othello Review
July 14, 2019