English IV

Othello
Character
Analysis
Describe the role of each of the following characters from Shakespeares
play, Othello: The Moor of Venice. Who are they? How do they relate to
the other characters? Explain their motivations and the conflicts they are
facing in the play. What is their job? Include any other important
information in your discussion. Your text book should be full of
information for each character.
Othello
Othello is Desdemonas husband. He is the general in the
Venetian military. He is a well-respected official in Venice. The
conflict is facing concerns racial issues with his marriage to
Desdemona. Othello is a moor from northern Africa, and
Desdemonas father does not want his daughter to have a
cross-cultural marriage. Othello is also facing problems with his
trusted advisor Iago though he does not realize it. Iago is angry
because Othello didnt give him the lieutenant position, and he
thinks Othello slept with his wife. (Maybe)
Desdemona
Desdemona is Othellos wife and Brabantios daughter. Who is
a Venetian beauty and also is the daughter of Brabantio. The
conflict is she doesnt want to marry some rich Venetian man
that her father chooses instead she wants to marry an African
American that is not a part of the Venetian society. Which in
her society they disapprove interracial marriages. She does
not have a job due to their richness.
Iago

Brabantio

Iago is married to Emilia, Who may or may have slept with

Othello the person he already hates. Iago is also a
manipulating person who eventually convinced Othello that
Desdemona cheated on him He is an ensign in the Venetian
military. The conflict is that Iago is also mad at Brabantio for
picking Cassio as the lieutenant whenever he doesnt know as
much as Iago. And he thinks that the only reason why he

He is the father of Desdemona. He is a rich Venetian senator.

Plus Brabantio thinks that his daughter is his property which
would mean that he sees marriage as a potential business
transaction. Funny thing is is that Brabantio invites over
Othello a lot but doesnt ever think that he would marry his
daughter. And he thinks the only reason why his daughter

Cassio

He is not married. And he is one of Othellos soldiers which

recently got a promotion to become lieutenant in his army.
Conflict is that whenever Cassio got promoted Iago got really
mad because Iago thinks knows that Cassio is not experienced
enough to become the lieutenant while Iago has all of the
experience.

Roderigo
Roderigo is a not married at all to anyone. He is paying Iago to
sabotage Desdemonas marriage and thinking that he will be
able to marry Desdemona. The main conflict is that in this
whole time he thinks Iago is helping him but really he is just
taking his money and using it on other stuff.

Duke
He is the leader over Venice, Italy.