Othello Study Guide Questions Essay

In the beginning of the play, Othello and Desdemona have a strong relationship. When others interfere with their marriage, Othello

Brabantio is often considered to be a minor role in Othello, frequently overlooked in intellectual writings about the play. However, he displays a character arc in the first three scenes that would take a majority of characters an entire production to portray. The audience is first introduced to Brabantio during the first scene when he is awakened by the story’s antagonist, Iago, and his friend, Roderigo. Brabantio immediately puts off an air of discontent and anger when he sees that his slumber was disturbed by Roderigo, who ironically has attempted to woo his daughter on numerous occasions:

He is clever in his diction to avoid confrontation that can easily erupt. An example of Iago’s manipulation is when he and Roderigo confront Brabanzio about his daughter. Brabanzio does not believe what the two say about Desdemona, calling it ridiculous, and he becomes angry because he has been woken up in the middle of the night. Roderigo immediately starts to explain, which only angers Brabanzio even more. Iago, on the other hand, responds by actually complimenting Brabanzio. Brabanzio yells, “Thou art a villain” to which Iago responds, “You are a senator”. The father is taken aback by this surprising comment and it causes him to step back and re-examine the situation, which eases his anger and causes him to believe the two storytellers, especially when he finds Desdemona missing from her bed chamber

Roderigo’s opening lines to Iago in Act 1 Scene 1 take us to the very root of the problem:

Later on in the play, Iago lies to Roderigo when he tells him that Othello will be taking Desdemona with him to Mauritania. He suggests that if Roderigo ever wants to see Desdemona again he has to make sure that Othello extends his stay in Cyprus. To do so, he suggests that Cassio must be killed, “Why, by making him uncapable of Othello’s place—/ knocking out his brains.”(4.2.226-227). If Othello goes to Mauritania, Cassio will be assigned Othello’s place. By killing Cassio, Iago gets his revenge and Roderigo would have a chance to win over Desdemona. Roderigo’s character is used to portray the theme of manipulation. He is persuaded into doing Iago’s ill deeds. Iago is only after one thing, to be appointed lieutenant, and he will do whatever is necessary to reach his goal.

In William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Othello, Iago demonstrates a mastery of manipulation over people who had previously trusted and confided in him. His sudden turn from Othello’s loyal ensign to rage-filled villain seems indicative of a man who can no longer accept his position in life. Iago’s plotting of Othello’s demise starts as idle talk of a disgruntled 28 year-old career military man passed over for promotion. Iago believes that such a promotion may never come after Othello rejects his candidacy and makes it clear that he did not believe him suitable. He sees Othello is only concerned with personal and political gain with his choice of Cassio as lieutenant. When Iago teams with love-scorned and desperate Roderigo, he begins

In this scene, Roderigo is sceptical of Iago’s plan and puts a sword to his throat. Iago swiftly maneuvers out of this situation by telling Roderigo how his judgement is brave and now he believes that Roderigo will do whatever it takes to get Desdemona’s love. Iago says that if Roderigo does not complete the plan, then he cannot try to kill him. The fooled Roderigo is shocked and is now completely loyal to Iago who barely got out of this bad situation using his manipulation skills. Later in the play, Roderigo finally recognizes that Iago has been taking advantage of him saying, “O damned Iago! O inhumane dog!” (5.1.74). As seen by his constant manipulative actions and dialogue, Iago reveals himself as a sociopath.

In the opening scene, while Iago is expressing his hatred for the general Othello for his having chosen Michael Cassio for the lieutenancy, he contrives a plan to partially avenge himself (“I follow him to serve my turn upon him”), with Roderigo’s assistance, by alerting Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, to the fact of his daughter’s elopement with Othello: “Call up her father, / Rouse him: make after him, poison his delight [. . .] .” Implied in

Iago’s second soliloquy reveals how he manipulates Cassio and Desdemona. While Desdemona waits for Othello to return from his journey across ravenous seas, Iago joins her. He purposely acts like a jerk to Desdemona and his wife, Emilia in front of Cassio. When Iago departs from the group, Cassio, in his good mannered gentleman way, reassures Desdemona that Othello will make it to shore fine. Having Desdemona confide in his words, Cassio takes interest in her just as Iago had planned.

Over the course of the book Othello, Iago, who is a convincing villain, manipulates Roderigo who is extremely naïve. Although it is obvious to the reader that Iago’s claims are untrue, Roderigo rarely speaks up to facilitate his own ideas in their talks. For example, Roderigo in convinced that Othello and Desdemona are in love, which they are, but Othello assures him they are not and he has a chance of winning Desdemona through Othello. “I hate the Moor… If thou canst cuckold him, thou dost thyself a pleasure, me a sport” (1.3.350, 352-353). Iago tells Roderigo to do himself a pleasure when he is really helping out Iago for Iago’s personal pleasure. The reason Iago is going to great lengths to ruin lives is that he believes that Othello has

Roderigo pays Iago for this false hope that he will be with Desdemona (1162). When he believes he is getting closer to being with her, however, Iago tells him that it might not happen because Desdemona is in love with Cassio (1169-70). Roderigo is greatly angered by this and resolves to do what it takes to stop Cassio from getting Desdemona even if it means taking his life. His attempt to kill Cassio, however, is unsuccessful, and instead he is the one injured (1175). Roderigo is no longer consumed with thoughts of being with Desdemona. Instead he is consumed with feelings of hatred toward those who might have her love and attention.

Iago plans to ruin Othello because of Iago's jealousy towards him is by carrying out a plan to get back at Othello based on lies and deceit. This plan will make Iago the only person that Othello believes he can trust, and Iago will use this trust to manipulate Othello. Iago plans to remove Cassio from

Roderigo has obsession to Desdemona and he is willing to sacrifice everything to have her even by means of selling his properties just to assure that he has his eyes on her when he join the Venetian forces. Roderigo’s ego pushes him even more when his rival Othello reminded him that they have different colour that makes him feels more superior than his rival for Othello is just a Moor. Roderigo’s pursuits of having Desdemona made him follow Iago and he became his puppet. Roderigo’s struggles made him unaware and blinded him by hate and greed that he lost his own

This multi-facetted characterisation of Iago is developed throughout the opening sequence of the film. His use of a caring and friendly tone when addressing Roderigo is sharply juxtaposed to Iago’s soliloquy directed to the audience, highlighting his ability to manipulate those around him and the ease at which he does so. Thus, establishing a false reputation which is invaluable to his scheme of deceit.

Firstly, Iago poisoned Roderigo?s thoughts to try and win Desdemona over, which in the end brings him to his untimely death. Iago provokes Roderigo to sell all his things and give his money for Iago to hold, to win over Desdemona when it is time to: