Othello Characters

Get Started. It's Free
or sign up with your email address
Othello Characters by Mind Map: Othello Characters

1. Othello

1.1. Michael Cassio

1.1.1. Michael Cassio is an unexperienced soldier, but was still given the rank of lieutenant by Othello. Othello is shocked when he hears about a drunken fight between Cassio and Montano, so he demotes Cassio. Cassio sends musicians to play under his window, but Othello's servant, Clown, sends them away. Iago uses rumours and planted evidence to convince that Cassio is having sex with Desdemona, Othello's wife. Othello says that it is allowed for Iago to murder Cassio for this betrayal. Iago however does not go through with this, because he is too afraid.

1.2. Iago

1.2.1. Othello's main enemy in the play is Iago. From the start of the play, Iago despises Othello because he promoted Cassio to lieutenant, the rank that Iago wanted. Othello still believes that Iago is an honest and just man. Iago turns Othello against Cassio by getting Cassio into a fight, and convincing Othello that his wife was in an affair with Cassio. Using subtle hints such as "I did not think he had been acquainted with her."(3.3, 103) (for the next few lines he hints that Cassio is not honest: "Honest, my lord?" "Honest, ay, honest." "My lord, for aught I know." (3.3, 106-108) He uses these to plant a seed in Othello's mind. Othello overthinks these and builds up the situation and begins to doubt Cassio, Desdemona, and even himself. Another instance of manipulation is when Iago tells Othello to hide, as Iago goes to talk with Cassio. Iago talks to Cassio about marrying Bianca, as to which Cassio laughs. Othello is convinced that Cassio is laughing about sleeping with Desdemona instead. Iago finishes his convincing act by planting a handkerchief that Othello gave to Desdemona in Cassio's room. Othello sees this and fully believes Iago is truthful.

1.3. Desdemona

1.3.1. Desdemona is Othello's wife. They married in secrecy before the story starts in fear that Brabantio (Desdemona's father) would not allow it. Brabantio is suspicious of witchcraft when he finds out, so he goes to the duke and asks to have Othello punished. The duke listens to all three of their stories, and comes to the agreement that they may live happily the same way they are now, to Brabantio's dismay. The duke also allows Othello to bring Desdemona to Cyprus. Iago sees this, and plans to ruin their marriage. Othello is soon convinced that Desdemona is in an affair with Michael Cassio, but he never thinks to ask Desdemona or question her about evidence, like the handkerchief he gave her, found in Cassio's quarters. Desdemona is a very kind, loyal, and trustworthy wife. Even when Othello becomes mad at her and strikes her, she stays calm and calmly exclaims: "I will not stay to offend you." She has obviously done nothing wrong, but Othello is caught up in his fury and jealousy that he does not realize it. In the end of the play, Othello thinks that Iago has killed Cassio, so he assumes that it is his time to kill Desdemona. He smothers Desdemona, but does not fully kill her. Emilia rushes in, and sees Othello, but not Desdemona. She hears her say something from under the covers and lifts them up. Desdemona loves Othello so much that she claims she is committing suicide, even though Othello killed her for no reason. Othello the admits to Emilia that he did truly murder Desdemona, and she was lying as she died.

1.4. Emilia

1.4.1. Othello and Emilia do not converse much during the play, but on the trip to Cyprus, Iago believes that Othello and Emilia had sex, which was completely untrue, as they have no romantic interest with each other whatsoever. Near the end of the play, in act 5, Emilia walks in on the murder scene of Desdemona and Othello. Desdemona lies and says she killed herself because of her love for Othello, but Othello admits to Emilia that he killed her. Emilia then cries for help.

1.5. Brabantio

1.5.1. Othello is a friend of Brabantio's before Brabantio discovers that Othello has married his daughter, Desdemona. Once Brabantio discovers this, he is furious and confused as to why Desdemona would fall in love with a black man like Othello. He then starts to think that maybe Othello is using witchcraft, so he goes to the duke and proposes that Othello be punished, but after the duke hears Othello's, Desdemona's, and Brabantio's stories, he takes the side of Othello and says that his own daughter would fall for a man with a story like Othello's. Brabantio is upset, but begins to have faith that Othello will treat Desdemona well.

1.6. Roderigo

1.6.1. Othello does not know Roderigo through out almost the entire play, but from the opening scene, Roderigo hates Othello. Othello has married Desdemona, who Roderigo loves. Roderigo hires Iago and pas him so that Desdemona will come to him, and to achieve this Iago atttempts to break up Othello and Desdemona.

1.7. Montano

1.7.1. Montano believes that Othello is a very good leader, and so Montano is happy to let Othello be governor of Cyprus. Othello also has great respect for Montano, one of the reasons he demoted Cassio after he wounded Montano. In the end of the play, Othello wields a sword, and Montano is the one to wrestle it away from him. He tells Othello that he must be in trouble with the law because of his murder, but Othello just kills himself in an act of honour.

1.8. Duke of Venice

1.8.1. The duke of Venice believes that Othello is a very good leader, so when he receives news that the turks are invading Cyprus, he tells Othello to go and take Desdemona, and become the governor there. "The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for Cyprus. Othello, the fortitude of the place is best known to you, and though we have there a substitute of most allowed sufficiency, yet opinion, a sovereign mistress of effects, throws a more safer voice on you. You must therefore be content to slubber the gloss of your new fortunes with this more stubborn and boist'rous expedition." (1.3, 222) Relatively at the same time, Brabantio accuses Othello of witchcraft to marry his daughter, and the duke lets Othello, Desdemona, and Brabantio all speak before coming to a conclusion. This shows his fair personality. He concludes that Othello is not guilty and that "I think this tale would win my daughter too. Good Brabantio. Take up this mangled matter at the best." (1.3, 175)

2. Desdemona

2.1. Brabantio

2.1.1. Desdemona is Brabantio's daughter. Desdemona marries Othello in secrecy so that her father does not get mad. Iago tells him this. and Brabantio is very upset. He thinks that Desdemona wouldn't marry a black man like Othello, so he starts to suspect black magic. He brings this case to the duke while the duke is telling Othello to go to Cyprus. The duke hears Brabantio's story, then Othello's story, and then Othello asks if Desdemona can vouch for herself. she says: "But here’s my husband. And so much duty as my mother showed to you, preferring you before her father, so much I challenge that I may profess due to the Moor my lord." (1.3, 186) Brabantio believes in her daughter, so he allows the marriage and steps down. This has most likely ruined the relationship between Othello and Brabantio.

2.2. Michael Cassio

2.2.1. Michael Cassio and Desdemona are not close, but they do know each other. Cassio believes that Desdemona is a very beautiful woman, but does not have a desire to have sex with her, as Iago convinces Othello to believe. Once Cassio loses his rank of lieutenant due to a fight, he goes and talks with Desdemona, asking if she can try and convince Othello to give him back his rank. She is so sympathetic to him that she vows she will make it happen. Cassio is framed again when Desdemona's handkerchief is found in his room, confirming Othello's suspicions that he was having an affair with Desdemona.

2.3. Duke of Venice

2.3.1. Desdemona and the duke of Venice talk when Brabantio come to the duke asking for Othello to be punished for the use of black magic. Both Brabantio and Othello ask the duke if Desdemona may speak. Desdemona tells him that she loves Othello, and she must show obligation to the man she marries over her father, as Brabantio's wife did. The duke says that Brabantio must live with it, and Othello and Desdemona may stay married without penalties.

2.4. Emilia

2.4.1. Emilia is appointed as Desdemona's mistress, or servant so to speak. Emilia loves her lord, and they are very close and trust each other. When Othello drops Desdemona's handkerchief at the dinner table, she picks it up for the main purpose of giving it back to Desdemona, but also to copy the embroidery because Iago had told her to steal it many times. Iago comes and she ends up giving it to him without Iago giving an explanation. Emilia witnesses Desdemona dying because of Othello's trust in Iago. Emilia is shocked when she hears that Iago told Othello that Cassio was sleeping with Desdemona as she knows this story is completely untrue, so she shouts and reveals Iago's plan, before he silences her.

2.5. Iago

2.5.1. Iago has no hatred towards Desdemona, and Desdemona does not hate Iago, but Iago's actions are the cause of Desdemona's death. Iago wants revenge on Othello, so he pits them against each other, and it ends in Desdemona's murder. Iago steals Desdemona's most valuable token, a handkerchief that Othello gave her, to plant as evidence in Cassio's room. Desdemona should hate Iago, but she thinks she has no reason to.

2.6. Roderigo

2.6.1. Roderigo is in love with Desdemona, but Brabantio will not allow Roderigo to marry her. Because of this Roderigo hires Iago to help him with his struggles, who backstabs him in the end of the play. Roderigo performs various stunts to gain the love of Desdemona, but without any luck. Roderigo never had a chance with Desdemona, but Iago convinced him he did for his money.

2.7. Othello

2.7.1. Desdemona is Othello's wife. They married in secrecy before the story starts in fear that Brabantio (Desdemona's father) would not allow it. Brabantio is suspicious of witchcraft when he finds out, so he goes to the duke and asks to have Othello punished. The duke listens to all three of their stories, and comes to the agreement that they may live happily the same way they are now, to Brabantio's dismay. The duke also allows Othello to bring Desdemona to Cyprus. Iago sees this, and plans to ruin their marriage. Othello is soon convinced that Desdemona is in an affair with Michael Cassio, but he never thinks to ask Desdemona or question her about evidence, like the handkerchief he gave her, found in Cassio's quarters. Desdemona is a very kind, loyal, and trustworthy wife. Even when Othello becomes mad at her and strikes her, she stays calm and calmly exclaims: "I will not stay to offend you." She has obviously done nothing wrong, but Othello is caught up in his fury and jealousy that he does not realize it. In the end of the play, Othello thinks that Iago has killed Cassio, so he assumes that it is his time to kill Desdemona. He smothers Desdemona, but does not fully kill her. Emilia rushes in, and sees Othello, but not Desdemona. She hears her say something from under the covers and lifts them up. Desdemona loves Othello so much that she claims she is committing suicide, even though Othello killed her for no reason. Othello the admits to Emilia that he did truly murder Desdemona, and she was lying as she died.

3. Iago

3.1. Brabantio

3.1.1. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque aliquet, sem sit amet malesuada malesuada, sapien mauris viverra ipsum, ut eleifend turpis felis et velit. Morbi vel tellus ornare, facilisis ante sed, sodales sem. Phasellus feugiat euismod dui, eget elementum ante. Proin ut tortor sit amet diam efficitur sodales. Aliquam non tortor ut libero bibendum porttitor. Aliquam quis eros scelerisque, elementum tellus ac, pretium mi. Vestibulum bibendum est in nulla pretium, egestas varius risus fringilla. Mauris sapien nibh, dignissim id commodo quis, varius maximus enim. Nunc diam diam, bibendum id lorem vitae, tincidunt lacinia ex.

3.2. Emilia

3.2.1. Iago is Emilia's husband, but Emilia does not trust her husband. When they travel to Cyprus, Iago believes that Emilia and Othello had sex, which is completely untrue. He isn't abusive, but demands a lot from her. For example, at dinner, Othello drops Desdemona's handkerchief and Iago tells Emilia to steal it. Emilia obliges but wants to copy the embroidery to give to Iago because she wants to give the original token to her lord, Desdemona. Iago refuses and Emilia unconfidently gives it to him. He uses this as evidence of Cassio and Desdemona's affair, to Emilia's horror. She discovers this as she walks into Desdemona on her deathbed next to Othello. She is furious with her husband, and tells everyone what he has done. In an attempt to silence her, he kills his own wife. Outside of the play, one might assume that they didn't have a healthy relationship

3.3. Bianca

3.3.1. Iago uses Bianca's unwanted love for Cassio to trick Othello. Bianca loves Cassio, and wants to marry him, but Cassio does not feel the same way and takes it as a joke. When Iago mentions Bianca to Cassio, he laughs, and Othello thinks they are talking about Desdemona unfortunately. Also, when Cassio is found wounded in the room at the end of the play, Iago tried to put the blame onto Bianca, Cassio's girlfriend, to divert the attention from him, as seen here: "Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash to be a party in this injury."(5.1, 87) "Trash" referring to Bianca.

3.4. Roderigo

3.4.1. Roderigo hires Iago to help him gain the love of Desdemona, but Iago only wants Roderigo's money. Iago convinces Roderigo that Desdemona loves Cassio, so he must get rid of Cassio if he wants Desdemona's love. To help him, Iago gets Cassio drunk and tells Roderigo to start a fight with him. This doesn't help Roderigo very much, and Roderigo becomes skeptic of Iago. Iago talks it off and Roderigo agrees to keep paying Iago. At the end of the play, Roderigo tries to stab Cassio, but it does not work and Cassio wounds Roderigo. Iago comes and kills Roderigo, and wounds Cassio.

3.5. Michael Cassio

3.5.1. Iago hates Michael Cassio. Cassio is an unexperienced and young soldier, but Othello still promoted him over Iago to the rank of lieutenant. Iago gets revenge on Cassio by getting him into a drunk fight with Roderigo, in which he wounds Montano, governor of Cyprus. This makes Othello furious and he fires Cassio. Cassio attempts to make it up to Othello, and Iago tells him the best way would be to talk to Desdemona and ask if she could convince Othello to give him his rank back. Iago then convinces Othello that Cassio and Desdemona are in an affair together, which results in the allowance of Iago to kill Cassio. Instead, Iago tells Roderigo to kill Cassio which does not work out as Roderigo misses and gets stabbed. Iago runs out of the shadows and quickly cuts Cassio's leg without being seen. He later blames this on Bianca: "Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash to be a party in this injury."(5.1, 87) Emilia discovers what has happened so she runs and tells Montano and Lodovico and others that Cassio did not in fact do this and Iago was the one responsible. Othello in rage brandishes a sword and tries to kill Iago. He is unsuccessful and Iago runs away. He is brough back, and Lodovico tells Cassio "...Remains the censure of this hellish villain: The time, the place, the torture. Oh, enforce it!" (5.2, 387)

3.6. Othello

3.6.1. Othello's main enemy in the play is Iago. From the start of the play, Iago despises Othello because he promoted Cassio to lieutenant, the rank that Iago wanted. Othello still believes that Iago is an honest and just man. Iago turns Othello against Cassio by getting Cassio into a fight, and convincing Othello that his wife was in an affair with Cassio. Using subtle hints such as "I did not think he had been acquainted with her."(3.3, 103) (for the next few lines he hints that Cassio is not honest: "Honest, my lord?" "Honest, ay, honest." "My lord, for aught I know." (3.3, 106-108) He uses these to plant a seed in Othello's mind. Othello overthinks these and builds up the situation and begins to doubt Cassio, Desdemona, and even himself. Another instance of manipulation is when Iago tells Othello to hide, as Iago goes to talk with Cassio. Iago talks to Cassio about marrying Bianca, as to which Cassio laughs. Othello is convinced that Cassio is laughing about sleeping with Desdemona instead. Iago finishes his convincing act by planting a handkerchief that Othello gave to Desdemona in Cassio's room. Othello sees this and fully believes Iago is truthful.

3.7. Montano

3.7.1. Montano meets Iago with some other gentlemen on the night of Cassio and Roderigo's fight. Iago convinces Montano that Cassio is a heavy drinker and is not fit to be lieutenant, so Montano starts to trust Iago. Near the end of the play though, Montano discovers Iago's evil plan and chases after him and captures him with others and lets Ludovico talk to him and Cassio about his punishment.

3.8. Desdemona

3.8.1. Iago has no hatred towards Desdemona, and Desdemona does not hate Iago, but Iago's actions are the cause of Desdemona's death. Iago wants revenge on Othello, so he pits them against each other, and it ends in Desdemona's murder. Iago steals Desdemona's most valuable token, a handkerchief that Othello gave her, to plant as evidence in Cassio's room. Desdemona should hate Iago, but she thinks she has no reason to.

4. Michael Cassio

4.1. Othello

4.1.1. Michael Cassio is an unexperienced soldier, but was still given the rank of lieutenant by Othello. Othello is shocked when he hears about a drunken fight between Cassio and Montano, so he demotes Cassio. Cassio sends musicians to play under his window, but Othello's servant, Clown, sends them away. Iago uses rumours and planted evidence to convince that Cassio is having sex with Desdemona, Othello's wife. Othello says that it is allowed for Iago to murder Cassio for this betrayal. Iago however does not go through with this, because he is too afraid.

4.2. Bianca

4.2.1. Bianca is a prostitute, but her preferred customer (boyfriend) is Cassio. Bianca is searching for love, and thinks Cassio is the one for her, even though he has no intention of marrying her. Bianca first gets mad at Cassio when she finds Desdemona's handkerchief in his room, which was planted there by Iago. Iago also uses the fact that he thinks marrying her is a joke to his advantage by tricking Othello into thinking that Cassio is laughing and calling Desdemona a whore, when he is really talking about Bianca. Iago blames Cassio's injuries on Bianca in act 5.

4.3. Iago

4.3.1. Iago hates Michael Cassio. Cassio is an unexperienced and young soldier, but Othello still promoted him over Iago to the rank of lieutenant. Iago gets revenge on Cassio by getting him into a drunk fight with Roderigo, in which he wounds Montano, governor of Cyprus. This makes Othello furious and he fires Cassio. Cassio attempts to make it up to Othello, and Iago tells him the best way would be to talk to Desdemona and ask if she could convince Othello to give him his rank back. Iago then convinces Othello that Cassio and Desdemona are in an affair together, which results in the allowance of Iago to kill Cassio. Instead, Iago tells Roderigo to kill Cassio which does not work out as Roderigo misses and gets stabbed. Iago runs out of the shadows and quickly cuts Cassio's leg without being seen. He later blames this on Bianca: "Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash to be a party in this injury."(5.1, 87) Emilia discovers what has happened so she runs and tells Montano and Lodovico and others that Cassio did not in fact do this and Iago was the one responsible. Othello in rage brandishes a sword and tries to kill Iago. He is unsuccessful and Iago runs away. He is brough back, and Lodovico tells Cassio "...Remains the censure of this hellish villain: The time, the place, the torture. Oh, enforce it!" (5.2, 387)

4.4. Desdemona

4.4.1. Michael Cassio and Desdemona are not close, but they do know each other. Cassio believes that Desdemona is a very beautiful woman, but does not have a desire to have sex with her, as Iago convinces Othello to believe. Once Cassio loses his rank of lieutenant due to a fight, he goes and talks with Desdemona, asking if she can try and convince Othello to give him back his rank. She is so sympathetic to him that she vows she will make it happen. Cassio is framed again when Desdemona's handkerchief is found in his room, confirming Othello's suspicions that he was having an affair with Desdemona.

4.5. Montano

4.5.1. Montano first meets Cassio after Iago has convinced him to drink, so Montano doesn't really trust Cassio to be a good lieutenant. Later that same night, Roderigo and Cassio get into a fight, and as Cassio is chasing Roderigo, Montano catches him and Cassio wounds him. (Contributing factor to Cassio's demotion) In the end of the play, Montano regains his respect for Cassio, as he discovers Iago's evil plan.

4.6. Roderigo

4.6.1. Roderigo doesn't really know of Michael Cassio until Iago tells him that he's the person Desdemona actually loves, and Cassio only meets him through a drunk fight. Iago convinces Roderigo that Cassio is the big problem, so while Cassio is drunk, Roderigo aggravates him until he starts a fight. Later on in the play, Roderigo attempts to stab Cassio, but misses. Cassio quickly turns and stabs Roderigo, wounding him very badly.

4.7. Emilia

4.7.1. Emilia does not know Michael Cassio very well, but she knows for sure that he is not in an affair with her lord, Desdemona. Emilia agrees to takel a handkerchief that is later planted in Cassio's room as evidence that he was sleeping with Desdemona. When Emilia discovers this, she lets everyone know that Iago was wrong and that Cassio is innocent.

5. Emilia

5.1. Othello

5.1.1. Othello and Emilia do not converse much during the play, but on the trip to Cyprus, Iago believes that Othello and Emilia had sex, which was completely untrue, as they have no romantic interest with each other whatsoever. Near the end of the play, in act 5, Emilia walks in on the murder scene of Desdemona and Othello. Desdemona lies and says she killed herself because of her love for Othello, but Othello admits to Emilia that he killed her. Emilia then cries for help.

5.2. Desdemona

5.2.1. Emilia is appointed as Desdemona's mistress, or servant so to speak. Emilia loves her lord, and they are very close and trust each other. When Othello drops Desdemona's handkerchief at the dinner table, she picks it up for the main purpose of giving it back to Desdemona, but also to copy the embroidery because Iago had told her to steal it many times. Iago comes and she ends up giving it to him without Iago giving an explanation. Emilia witnesses Desdemona dying because of Othello's trust in Iago. Emilia is shocked when she hears that Iago told Othello that Cassio was sleeping with Desdemona as she knows this story is completely untrue, so she shouts and reveals Iago's plan, before he silences her.

5.3. Iago

5.3.1. Iago is Emilia's husband, but Emilia does not trust her husband. When they travel to Cyprus, Iago believes that Emilia and Othello had sex, which is completely untrue. He isn't abusive, but demands a lot from her. For example, at dinner, Othello drops Desdemona's handkerchief and Iago tells Emilia to steal it. Emilia obliges but wants to copy the embroidery to give to Iago because she wants to give the original token to her lord, Desdemona. Iago refuses and Emilia unconfidently gives it to him. He uses this as evidence of Cassio and Desdemona's affair, to Emilia's horror. She discovers this as she walks into Desdemona on her deathbed next to Othello. She is furious with her husband, and tells everyone what he has done. In an attempt to silence her, he kills his own wife. Outside of the play, one might assume that they didn't have a healthy relationship

5.4. Michael Cassio

5.4.1. Emilia does not know Michael Cassio very well, but she knows for sure that he is not in an affair with her lord, Desdemona. Emilia agrees to takel a handkerchief that is later planted in Cassio's room as evidence that he was sleeping with Desdemona. When Emilia discovers this, she lets everyone know that Iago was wrong and that Cassio is innocent.

6. Roderigo

6.1. Othello

6.1.1. Othello does not know Roderigo through out almost the entire play, but from the opening scene, Roderigo hates Othello. Othello has married Desdemona, who Roderigo loves. Roderigo hires Iago and pas him so that Desdemona will come to him, and to achieve this Iago atttempts to break up Othello and Desdemona.

6.2. Desdemona

6.2.1. Roderigo is in love with Desdemona, but Brabantio will not allow Roderigo to marry her. Because of this Roderigo hires Iago to help him with his struggles, who backstabs him in the end of the play. Roderigo performs various stunts to gain the love of Desdemona, but without any luck. Roderigo never had a chance with Desdemona, but Iago convinced him he did for his money.

6.3. Iago

6.3.1. Roderigo hires Iago to help him gain the love of Desdemona, but Iago only wants Roderigo's money. Iago convinces Roderigo that Desdemona loves Cassio, so he must get rid of Cassio if he wants Desdemona's love. To help him, Iago gets Cassio drunk and tells Roderigo to start a fight with him. This doesn't help Roderigo very much, and Roderigo becomes skeptic of Iago. Iago talks it off and Roderigo agrees to keep paying Iago. At the end of the play, Roderigo tries to stab Cassio, but it does not work and Cassio wounds Roderigo. Iago comes and kills Roderigo, and wounds Cassio.

6.4. Michael Cassio

6.4.1. Roderigo doesn't really know of Michael Cassio until Iago tells him that he's the person Desdemona actually loves, and Cassio only meets him through a drunk fight. Iago convinces Roderigo that Cassio is the big problem, so while Cassio is drunk, Roderigo aggravates him until he starts a fight. Later on in the play, Roderigo attempts to stab Cassio, but misses. Cassio quickly turns and stabs Roderigo, wounding him very badly.

6.5. Brabantio

6.5.1. Brabantio dislikes Roderigo, and will not let him marry his daughter, which is why Roderigo hires Iago to help him. They do not talk much except for the time when he and Iago go to Brabantio's doorstep to tell him that Othello has run away with Desdemona.

7. Bianca

7.1. Michael Cassio

7.1.1. Bianca is a prostitute, but her preferred customer (boyfriend) is Cassio. Bianca is searching for love, and thinks Cassio is the one for her, even though he has no intention of marrying her. Bianca first gets mad at Cassio when she finds Desdemona's handkerchief in his room, which was planted there by Iago. Iago also uses the fact that he thinks marrying her is a joke to his advantage by tricking Othello into thinking that Cassio is laughing and calling Desdemona a whore, when he is really talking about Bianca. Iago blames Cassio's injuries on Bianca in act 5.

7.2. Iago

7.2.1. Iago uses Bianca's unwanted love for Cassio to trick Othello. Bianca loves Cassio, and wants to marry him, but Cassio does not feel the same way and takes it as a joke. When Iago mentions Bianca to Cassio, he laughs, and Othello thinks they are talking about Desdemona unfortunately. Also, when Cassio is found wounded in the room at the end of the play, Iago tried to put the blame onto Bianca, Cassio's girlfriend, to divert the attention from him, as seen here: "Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash to be a party in this injury."(5.1, 87) "Trash" referring to Bianca.

8. Brabantio

8.1. Othello

8.1.1. Othello is a friend of Brabantio's before Brabantio discovers that Othello has married his daughter, Desdemona. Once Brabantio discovers this, he is furious and confused as to why Desdemona would fall in love with a black man like Othello. He then starts to think that maybe Othello is using witchcraft, so he goes to the duke and proposes that Othello be punished, but after the duke hears Othello's, Desdemona's, and Brabantio's stories, he takes the side of Othello and says that his own daughter would fall for a man with a story like Othello's. Brabantio is upset, but begins to have faith that Othello will treat Desdemona well.

8.2. Duke of Venice

8.2.1. The duke of Venice is a friend of Brabantio's. He is sympathetic at first when Brabantio tells him that a man has used witchcraft to claim Desdemona's heart. After Othello reasons with him, the duke tells him he will have to live with it.

8.3. Desdemona

8.3.1. Desdemona is Brabantio's daughter. Desdemona marries Othello in secrecy so that her father does not get mad. Iago tells him this. and Brabantio is very upset. He thinks that Desdemona wouldn't marry a black man like Othello, so he starts to suspect black magic. He brings this case to the duke while the duke is telling Othello to go to Cyprus. The duke hears Brabantio's story, then Othello's story, and then Othello asks if Desdemona can vouch for herself. she says: "But here’s my husband. And so much duty as my mother showed to you, preferring you before her father, so much I challenge that I may profess due to the Moor my lord." (1.3, 186) Brabantio believes in her daughter, so he allows the marriage and steps down. This has most likely ruined the relationship between Othello and Brabantio.

8.4. Roderigo

8.4.1. Brabantio dislikes Roderigo, and will not let him marry his daughter, which is why Roderigo hires Iago to help him. They do not talk much except for the time when he and Iago go to Brabantio's doorstep to tell him that Othello has run away with Desdemona.

9. Duke of Venice

9.1. Othello

9.1.1. The duke of Venice believes that Othello is a very good leader, so when he receives news that the turks are invading Cyprus, he tells Othello to go and take Desdemona, and become the governor there. "The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for Cyprus. Othello, the fortitude of the place is best known to you, and though we have there a substitute of most allowed sufficiency, yet opinion, a sovereign mistress of effects, throws a more safer voice on you. You must therefore be content to slubber the gloss of your new fortunes with this more stubborn and boist'rous expedition." (1.3, 222) Relatively at the same time, Brabantio accuses Othello of witchcraft to marry his daughter, and the duke lets Othello, Desdemona, and Brabantio all speak before coming to a conclusion. This shows his fair personality. He concludes that Othello is not guilty and that "I think this tale would win my daughter too. Good Brabantio. Take up this mangled matter at the best." (1.3, 175)

9.2. Brabantio

9.2.1. The duke of Venice is a friend of Brabantio's. He is sympathetic at first when Brabantio tells him that a man has used witchcraft to claim Desdemona's heart. After Othello reasons with him, the duke tells him he will have to live with it.

9.3. Desdemona

9.3.1. Desdemona and the duke of Venice talk when Brabantio come to the duke asking for Othello to be punished for the use of black magic. Both Brabantio and Othello ask the duke if Desdemona may speak. Desdemona tells him that she loves Othello, and she must show obligation to the man she marries over her father, as Brabantio's wife did. The duke says that Brabantio must live with it, and Othello and Desdemona may stay married without penalties. Desdemona also asks the duke if she may go to Cyprus with Othello, and explains that she will feel helpless and pointless without him. He obliges and she is relieved.

10. Montano

10.1. Othello

10.1.1. Montano believes that Othello is a very good leader, and so Montano is happy to let Othello be governor of Cyprus. Othello also has great respect for Montano, one of the reasons he demoted Cassio after he wounded Montano. In the end of the play, Othello wields a sword, and Montano is the one to wrestle it away from him. He tells Othello that he must be in trouble with the law because of his murder, but Othello just kills himself in an act of honour.

10.2. Michael Cassio

10.2.1. Montano first meets Cassio after Iago has convinced him to drink, so Montano doesn't really trust Cassio to be a good lieutenant. Later that same night, Roderigo and Cassio get into a fight, and as Cassio is chasing Roderigo, Montano catches him and Cassio wounds him. (Contributing factor to Cassio's demotion) In the end of the play, Montano regains his respect for Cassio, as he discovers Iago's evil plan.

10.3. Iago

10.3.1. Montano meets Iago with some other gentlemen on the night of Cassio and Roderigo's fight. Iago convinces Montano that Cassio is a heavy drinker and is not fit to be lieutenant, so Montano starts to trust Iago. Near the end of the play though, Montano discovers Iago's evil plan and chases after him and captures him with others and lets Ludovico talk to him and Cassio about his punishment.