Character Profiles

Othello - The Moor

Personality
He is the main character in the play and is a hero in Venice as he is highly respected general of the army. He is a powerful character with pride and is always in control in the play. In Act I, Othello has a scuffle with Brabantio, who has come to kill him, but before anything could happen Othello said, "Hold your hands, both of you of my inclining and the rest. Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it without a prompter" (Act I, ii, lines 80-3). In spite of his strong outside character, inside, as a person, he lets emotions run his life. Othello is nevertheless easy prey to insecurities because of his age, his life as a soldier, and his self-consciousness about being a racial and cultural outsider. He possesses a free and open nature that his ensign Iago exploits to twist Othello’s love for his wife, Desdemona, into a powerful and destructive jealousy.Everyone considered Iago as honest, and would be out of character for Othello to believe any different, "A man he is of honesty and trust" (Act I, iii, line 280). Therefore when Iago said Desdemona might be having an affair with Cassio, he said it in such a way that it was so convincing and Othello believed everything. This let Iago achieve what he wanted; revenge because of jealousy. If he had stronger self-confidence to believe himself and had a stronger tie with Desdemona, even though Iago has been his ancient for a long time, Othello should have listented to Desdemona before anyone else.


Othello viewed by other people in the play
Desdemona loves Othello from her heart and would do anything for him.
Iago knows that Othello completely trusts him, so he uses that to take a revenge on him
Cassio respects Othello and thinks he has the highest reputation

Relationship in the play
Desdemona is his wife
Iago is Othello's ancient who he trusts but Iago hates Othello but hides it
Cassio is Othello's lieutenant
Duke sends Othello to Cyprus

Othello's main role
Because of Othello's reputation and resupect from others as 'The Moor', he controls the army of Venice. All men work for him and with Desdemona, they are like king and queen of Venice.

Specific Themes
What I thought Othello really made the play as a tragedy is because of his strong trust to Iago.


Iago - Othello's Ancient

Personality
He is pure evil and had no feeling of guilt in anything he does that affects people around him who even dies for what he has done. Without any proof he is ready trick people up and lie for his benefit. Iago even states at an early stage in the play that he has a mask, "I am not what I am" (Act I, i, Line 66). Also when he wants something, he will get it no matter the stealing, lies, relationships or even death. In Act 2 he is explaining his jealously, "...to diet my revenge, for that I do suspect the lusty Moor... at least into a jealousy so strong that judgement cannot cure" (Act II, i, Lines 275-6 and 282-3).

Iago viewed by other people in the play
Especially Othello, who is in the highest standard in Venice has the most trust on him. He believe Iago is an honest man, and belives whatever he says. Using that, Iago plans the entire trick so that the position Cassio has right now will be his, "I hate the Moor... to get his place and to plyme up my will..." (Act I, iii, Lines 368 and 375). To gain that position, his actions influences the play to be a tragedy. Therefore every character in the play is tricked into giving full trust to him and in the end the worst senerio is waiting for them.

Relationship in the play

Othello- hates but hides it
Desdemona - he slanders
Roderigo  - uses for his plan
Cassio - hates because he believes he should be in Cassio's position
Emilia - his wife

Iago's main role
To negatively influence every character's reputation, relationship and life. For only his revenge and for his strong jealousy, he is to cause Othello's mind to thinking that Desdemona is having a relationship or an affair with Cassio. Making sure that Othello tursts him more than Desdemona, in the end his wish is granted, but he dies anyway.

Specific Role
He pretty much is the main person to lead the play into a tragedy.