Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Othello Characters
- Desdemona
- Noblewoman: Leaves only with the clothes on her back, stands up to her father in front of
the entire senate, disobeys her father for love. Sophisticated, mannered and polish- proper
education.Directness. Announces her decision with clarity of thought and honesty of intent.
She has restraint and strength.Compassionate. Absolute faith in Othello gets tested.
Innocence. openness
- Young and Innocent: Stereotyped as pure and meek, shocks society when
she defies her father and The society and elopes to Othello. Naive-
interferes in her husband’s work. Determined (Cassio) and Self-possessed.
- Strong-willed: married a moor, against her father’s wishes and
knowledge. Betrays her father and Society. Not afraid. Quiet and
brave. Hides her true self to her father.
- Loyal Friend: Gives her word and keeps it,
very persistent, or tenacious.
- Emilia
- Not afraid to speak up: very cynical, reveals her husband’s plot. Capable of speaking her mind
Frankly and forthrightly (“Scurvy fellow”; “ Most villainous knave”
- Servant: Desdemona- very loyal
- Worldly, not innocent: “hussies in the bed”
- Craves her husband’s love: at all extends, steals handkerchief and gives it to her husband
- Iago
- Irony: Sees the flaws/ weaknesses in others, but
not his own- jealous, distrust, two-faced,
Manipulative
- Foul Language/ Filthy
imagination: “He has
also ridden my horse”,
Obsessed with sexual
acts
- Egotist: he
believes he
deserves the
position. Insecure.
- A common Soldier (Ensign- Flag bearer): Jealous,
ensures Cassio loses his position as Lieutenant
- Manipulator/ Opportunist: Aesthetic delight in
manipulation and destruction. Defying God. Use
Roderigo to start a brawl, to get Cassio into trouble
- Insecure: Obsessive, he imagines that Othello has slept with Emilia, no prove however.
Also suspects Cassio. Paranoid, his soliloquies is evidences of his insecurities. Knows
Othello is good! “a free and open nature”; “ a constant, loving, noble nature”
- Disloyal: Plotting revenge. Makes Othello like and trust him. Knows Othello is a good husband
Devious, evil, immortal. Capable of destroying anyone. Not straightforward. His reasons are after
thoughts to the decision to act. Liar, betrayer, mental torturer, of Othello and Desdemona, murderer
- Incapable of true love: “I’d rather be a baboon than kill myself over love”, he doesn’t understands
the emotion, just lust. Wants women for sexual needs rather than emotional Bitter cynicism towards
women. Treats Emilia with contempt.
- Granziano and Ludovico
- Civilised: Decency and good manners and rule of law
Respected and dignity is awarded to all decent people.
- Roberigo
- Romantic/ sentimental lover: Buys Desdemona presents which Iago has to give to her, follows her
Around the world. Kills for her. Love is his weakness… he is gullible (Iago). And silly (Desdemona)
- Very Wealthy: Convinced that if he gives Iago all his money, Desdemona will love him.
- Not as stupid as he seems: Stands up to Iago in the end
- Brabanzio
- Senator of Venice: Sophisticated, cultural Venetian.
- Prejudiced: Calls Othello a thief and “sooty bosom”, accuses him of witch craft and bewitching his
Daughter. Foreshadows the collapse of law and order. “Look to her Moor, if thou hast eyes to see.
She has deceived her father, and may thee”
- Cassio
- Weakness: Alcohol cannot hold his drink, but he chooses to drink another cup. Allows Iago to give
Him a solution “our General’s wife is now our general”
- Friend to Desdemona: Always speaking
politely of her. Ask her to help him. Was
Desdemona and Othello’s messenger, before
they eloped.
- Loyal to Othello: Devoted to Othello-n
ashamed about losing control, he knows
he is to blame. Doesn’t’ speak up and
defend himself because he is full of self
pity because he let Othello down.
- Promoted as Lieutenant:
Young and inexperienced.
Has the theory. Demoted
because of brawl.
Self-pity. Cannot find his
own solution. Asks Iago
for advice. Asks
Desdemona to help him
get Reinstated.
- Popular with Women: Kisses Emilia and she doesn’t stop
him. Bianca, his lover. Treats women with Excessive
courtesy. His shallow, superficial intellect of his continually
gets him into trouble. Matures and more together since
recent events.
- Young and Handsome:
friendship with Desdemona is
used to play on Othello’s
insecurities about Desdemona’s
infidelity. Sophisticated and
stylish. His language tends to
exaggeration.
- Relationship with Bianca:
Uses her to confirm his
suspension of Iago
- Othello
- Insecure: Outcast, unworthy of
Desdemona, new husband,
Self-conscience, victimization, Falls
for Iago’s trickery, believes that
Desdemona is having affair with
Cassio, over-heated imagination
- His Language: Articulate in the begin, then deteriorates Othello’s language deteriorates into
fragmented, hesitant, and incoherent syntax after he starts suspecting that Desdemona is faithful.
Othello’s personality and language transforms from being gentle and sophisticated to crude
impulsive through the influence of Iago
- Nobleman- His conduct: Given chance to defend himself, then allows Desdemona to defend herself
as well.Fairly-treated Man in charge. Self restraint in his manner and demeanour and in control of
himself. When he does not act on Brabanzio’s abuse it shows he has courtesy and intergrity. Gullible,
condemn his wife (‘damn herm lewd minx”with no real evidence. Acknowledges his defeat in the end
and stands down.
- The Lover/ Husband: First experience
of love, middle-aged man, never
experienced love before, can not
cope with new found emotions,,
doesn’t know how to be a husband,
- The Cuckold- deceived husband,
suspects she is cheating, however
doesn’t confront her, yet his love for
her is his undoing. Lacks dignity when
he thinks Desdemona is unfaithful.
- His fatal flaw: Jealous, (he really does not suffer from that until Iago plants seeds of doubt in his
heart regarding Desdemona), hot-headed and passionate nature, excessive pride and reputation
- The Murderer: Murders Desdemona- he
suspects her of being unfaithful, also commits
suicide.
- The Moor: Outcast, only
black man in an all white
society. “Sooty Bosom”,
“thick lips”, “Barbary
Horse”
- The General: well respected,
reputation, tries to maintain a civilised
behaviour among his soldiers accuses
them of behaving like the enemy, will
be obeyed, strong leader