1. lago
1.1. Iago, an ensign (standard-bearer), claims he is seeking revenge on Othello for promoting Cassio instead of him
1.2. He tells Senator Brabantio of Othello’s secret marriage to Desdemona
1.3. gets Cassio drunk, stoking him and Roderigo to fight over her. This leads to Cassio being dismissed.
1.3.1. He convinces Cassio to ask Desdemona for help regaining his recently lost post as officer.
1.4. He plants the strawberry handkerchief Othello had given to Desdemona on Cassio, which leads Othello to suspect her of infidelity.
1.4.1. He then convinces Othello to attack Cassio.
1.5. When his wife Emilia tells the truth of his plotting to Othello, Iago kills her.
1.6. Othello wounds him, he is arrested and sent to trial without ever explaining his actions.
2. Cassio
2.1. Michael Cassio is noble and loyal, albeit inexperienced, and he is promoted to lieutenant in the Venetian forces by his general Othello.
2.2. lago gets him drunk and incites Roderigo to fight with him over Desdemona. Othello blames Cassio for the fight and then strips Cassio of his recently conferred lieutenant status
2.3. Cassio is convinced by Iago to ask Desdemona for help in regaining this status.
2.3.1. Iago manipulates Cassio's friendship with Desdemona to make Othello think they are having an affair.
2.4. Othello orders Iago to kill Cassio, but he is only wounded. Cassio becomes governor of Cyprus after Othello’s death.
3. Othello
3.1. The play’s protagonist and hero
3.2. Christian Moor and general of the armies of Venice, Othello is an eloquent and physically powerful figure
3.3. He has promoted Cassio to lieutenant while leaving Iago as ensign
3.3.1. That is why lago dislikes him
3.4. Othello falls in love with Desdemona and they secretly marry.
3.4.1. later, he leaves to Cyprus to stop the Turks as they were going to end his marriage.
3.5. Othello orders Iago to kill Cassio because he suspects that he is having an affair with Desdemona
3.6. He smothers and kills his wife, Desdemona while she is asleep
3.6.1. When Othello learns the truth too late, he wounds Iago and in despair, kills himself.
4. Roderigo
4.1. A jealous suitor of Desdemona.
4.2. Young, rich, and foolish, Roderigo is convinced that if he gives Iago all of his money, Iago will help him win Desdemona’s hand.
4.3. Repeatedly frustrated as Othello marries Desdemona and then takes her to Cyprus, Roderigo is ultimately desperate enough to agree to help Iago kill Cassio after Iago points out that Cassio is another potential rival for Desdemona.
5. Emilia
5.1. Emilia is the wife of Iago and a handmaiden to Desdemona
5.2. Iago regularly mistreats and humiliates her.
5.3. He convinces her to take Desdemona’s handkerchief in order to win his good graces which spurs Othello’s jealousy.
5.4. When Othello questions her about Desdemona's guilt, she defends her and suspects that someone else is manipulating him.
5.4.1. When she finds Othello killing Desdemona and discovers her husband’s role in the plotting, she refuses to stay silent – which results in Iago murdering her.
6. Desdemona
6.1. Desdemona is the daughter of the Venetian senator Brabantio.
6.2. Amazed by Othello’s stories of his life, she falls in love with him. She defends their secret marriage to her father when he finds out, but he disowns her, and she follows her husband on his campaign to Cyprus.
6.3. Iago manipulates Roderigo, Cassio and Othello through their love for her and resulting jealousy.
6.3.1. Her caring nature leads her to innocently agree to help Cassio, as well as naively wonder as to the causes of Othello’s mistrust. She continues to proclaim her innocence, even when publicly struck by Othello, and later on her deathbed as he smothers her.