Othello character analysis

• Othello


  A cautionary tale about jealousy & inner conflict
• Othello at the Beginning of the Play (Acts 1-3)

  • The Mediator: Shakespeare portrays Othello as a prudent, level-headed individual who seeks to resolve conflict rather than cause it
  • The Leader: Othello is an ambassador to the Moors and a well-respected general in the Venetian army. Shakespeare shows that he takes his job and duties very seriously, often putting his obligations to others before his own needs
  • The Doting Husband: Shakespeare portrays Othello's devotion to Desdemona, conveying the mutual respect the couple share
  • The Lover: Shakespeare conveys how love brightens Othello's spirit
  • The Gullible Disciple: At first, Othello is shown to be unwavering in his faith in Desdemona's loyalty
  • The Rational Thinker: As Iago's plot starts to unfold, Shakespeare implies Othello will be resistant to his ploys
• Othello at the End of the Play (Acts 3-5)

  • The Tortured Soul: Within Act 3 Scene 3, we watch Othello's resolve crumble. He gives into paranoia and doubt
  • The Warrior: Shakespeare illustrates Othello's regression to a warmongering soldier, reacting to conflict with violence and fury
  • The Judge, Jury, and Executioner: Othello is paranoid and cut adrift from everything he knows, and as a result, Shakespeare shows how he becomes insidiously self-reliant
  • The Cuckold: Othello feels his identity is reduced to being a cuckold upon Desdemona's betrayal, stripping him of his manhood, qualities, and triumphs
• Othello and Desdemona


  When the play begins, Othello and Desdemona have eloped, unbeknownst to her father. They fell in love during Othello's visits to her house to speak with her father, as Othello entertained Desdemona with tales of his life in foreign lands. While others disapprove of their union because of Othello's race and outsider status, it is one of the reasons Desdemona loves him. Initially, Othello is a devout husband, worshipping Desdemona as well as respecting her as an individual. He allows her more freewill and voice than was typical of the time. In addition, he has absolute faith in her, and cannot imagine a time when he won't love her. However, the unknown territory of Cyprus and everything it brings with it adds strain to their relationship. One main conflict in the opening acts is their attempts to consummate their marriage. Repeatedly, they are denied time alone together, showing the general objection to their relationship still impacts them. The chaos that erupts and Cassio's subsequent demotion adds more tension to their relationship, as their contrasting perspectives on duty and warfare are brought to light. Ultimately, Shakespeare portrays the malignance of self-doubt and insecurity, particularly a man's insecurity in his own masculinity. Othello's love for Desdemona is usurped by his paranoia; all traces of his previous trust in her are gone. His wife becomes a source of fury and humiliation for him, and he reduces their marriage to the traditional dynamic of a man fighting for authority over his wife. In the end, he believes it is his duty to murder her in order to save others from the fate of a cuckold. He views her death as a sacrifice for the benefit of all men, choosing male solidarity over romantic love.
• Othello and Iago


  Othello views Iago as a close friend and advisor. He respects his opinion, believes him to be incredibly honest and kind hearted, and seeks his counsel. However, this is immediately undermined by Iago's secret conversation with Roderigo, in which he confesses to resenting Othello for passing him over for the promotion to lieutenant. Their relationship is therefore imbalanced: Othello's regard for Iago is genuine, whereas Iago's loyalty to Othello is just a facade. Othello appears unaware of Iago's true motives.
• Othello's love for Desdemona


  Usurped by his paranoia
• All traces of Othello's previous trust in Desdemona are gone
• Desdemona becomes


  A source of fury and humiliation for Othello
• Othello reduces his marriage to Desdemona to the traditional dynamic of a man fighting for authority over his wife
• Othello believes it is his duty to murder Desdemona in order to save others from the fate of a cuckold
• Othello chooses male solidarity over romantic love
• Othello views Iago as

  A close friend and advisor
• Iago confesses to resenting Othello for passing him over for the promotion to lieutenant
• Othello's regard for Iago is genuine, whereas Iago's loyalty to Othello is just a facade
• Othello appears unaware of how his decision to promote Cassio could have offended Iago
• The uneven distribution of power within society is a barrier to true male friendship
• Iago believes he deserves a reward for his loyalty and friendship
• Othello, the authority in this relationship, is blind to the ulterior motives behind social bonds
• Iago successfully bends Othello to his will, filling his mind with lies, hatred, and fury
• Iago undermines Othello's relationships with others, isolating him and making him fully reliant on Iago
• Iago's word is worth more than Desdemona's despite her being Othello's wife, because Iago is a man
• Iago manipulates Othello's doubts and weaknesses for his own benefit, emulating Capitalism's competitiveness
• The men's relationship can be interpreted as an allegory for colonialism: Iago, the white man, destroys Othello's identity and replaces it with his own
• Iago takes Desdemona's place as Othello's lover
• Othello's dependence on Iago grows; Iago becomes Othello's (lack of) moral conscience, spurring him on, fuelling his anger, and gaslighting him
• Theirs is the epitome of an abusive relationship, where Iago is the manipulator and Othello is the unwitting victim
• Othello says Brabantio loved him, often invited him, and questioned him about his life story
• Upon discovering Othello's marriage to his daughter, Brabantio is enraged and views their union as unnatural
• The fight for ownership of women was a prominent barrier to male friendship
• Brabantio is comfortable with Othello's race and exploits it, until he becomes involved with his own daughter
• Othello still respects Brabantio and remains civil with him when Brabantio is trying to incite conflict
• Brabantio becomes a reminder of Desdemona's previous duplicity; Othello inherits his anxieties of having Desdemona stolen from him
• Cassio is chosen to be Othello's new lieutenant, making him another of Othello's closest advisers and friends
• The rank of lieutenant introduces a formal aspect to Othello and Cassio's relationship
• Othello chooses duty over friendship and demotes Cassio, which jeopardises their friendship
• Cassio's demotion is a catalyst for the conflict between Othello and Desdemona
• Once convinced of Desdemona's adultery, Othello views Cassio as a rival who has undermined his manhood and humiliated him
• Othello refers to Emilia as a brothel-keeper and a whore, illustrating his belief that all women are sexual, deceitful beings
• Emilia is the one who exposes Iago's plots and convinces Othello of Desdemona's innocence
• Emilia's actions exonerate Desdemona and force Othello to examine his own actions