Joanna Vanderham as Desdemona and Hugh Quarshie as Othello in the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2015 adaption of Othello
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Character Analysis: Othello
Character Analysis: Othello
What is behind the face of the respected Othello? Does his age and wisdom allow for some sanity during the events of Iago's tricks? As one of Shakespeare's most interesting leads, Othello is a man of mystery and history.
What does Othello look like?
What does Othello look like?
The first descriptions of Othello's character come from Iago and Roderigo in Act 1 Scene 1. At first, the two men are speaking of an ambiguous "he" or "him," and it isn't until they are under Brabantio's window that they begin to specify who they speak of. Unfortunately, their descriptions are filled "racial epithets, not names. These include 'the Moor' (I.i.57), 'the thick-lips' (I.i.66), 'an old black ram' (I.i.88), and 'a Barbary horse' (I.i.113)" (SparkNotes Editors Characters: Othello).
Thankfully, Othello's description goes beyond Iago and Roderigo's racist descriptions of the general. A beautiful description I found of Othello describes him as "a black face among a sea of white faces, and he is constantly referred to as 'The Moor,' a representative African, while others go by their personal names and are seen as independent individuals" (McCulloch and Carey). Additionally, Othello is described and often casted as a "Tall, dark-skinned man, part Berber, part Arab, in his early forties" (Othello Comprehensive Storyform).
Laurence Fishburne as Othello in Othello (1995)
Hugh Quarshie as Othello and Lucian Msamati as Iago in the RSC's Othello, 2015
Joanna Vanderham as Desdemona and Hugh Quarshie as Othello in the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2015 adaption of Othello
What is Othello's personality?
What is Othello's personality?
Othello is very much a military man: he is organized, loyal, and disciplined. As a general of the armies of Venice, "Othello is an eloquent and physically powerful figure, respected by all those around him" (SparkNotes Editor Characters: Character List). His reputation "as an effective warrior and leader earns him a command against the Turks and a position as governor of Cyprus," and his ability to captivate those around him with his speech allows him to achieve that happiness he strives for, including his wooing and marriage to Desdemona (Othello Comprehensive Storyform). This great captivation that Othello holds is combined with his "exotic qualities" that draw his peers closer to him; "Othello admits as much when he tells the duke about his friendship with Brabanzio" (SparkNotes Editors Characters: Othello).
"Her father loved me, oft invited me,
Still questioned me the story of my life
From year to year" (I.III.149-151).
Despite his strength and great reputation, Othello holds a weakness: he is "easy prey to insecurities because of his age, his life as a soldier, and his race. He possesses a 'free and open nature,' which his ensign Iago uses to twist his love for his wife, Desdemona, into a powerful and destructive jealousy" (SparkNotes Editor Characters: Character List).
How would one describe the life of Othello?
How would one describe the life of Othello?
The life of Othello can be seen as a great and lucky one. He has everything someone could want out of life: a loving partner, high-ranking and high-paying position of general, respect from officials, and the ability to travel the world. But it was not always this way for Othello.
In Act 1 Scene 3, before a council of high-ranking officials, Othello tells his life story that has led him to the present moment and resulted in Desdemona falling in love with him upon hearing it. Othello describes being born of royal blood in Africa, but was sold into slavery and lived in army camps since the age of seven. "Othello’s traveled the world where he’s encountered cannibals and a race of men whose heads grow beneath their shoulders. He had only been in Venice for nine months where he was a frequent guest in Brabantio’s home" (Othello Comprehensive Storyform). His time in Venice is time well-spent as "The Venetian government trusts Othello enough to put him in full martial and political command of Cyprus; indeed, in his dying speech, Othello reminds the Venetians of the 'service' he has done their state" (SparkNotes Editors Characters: Othello).
What is Othello's relationship with the other characters?
What is Othello's relationship with the other characters?
In Othello, every character has some type of relationship with the others, and Othello is a perfect example of these extensive relationships. Additionally, all of Othello's relationships start in a positive, healthy manner, but spiral to toxicity when Iago's words land in Othello's ears, causing him to doubt everyone around him.
Othello eloped and is now married to Desdemona, and is madly in love with her - until he begins to doubt her faithfulness. His relationship with Desdemona is the most transformed during the plot of the play, as Othello begins as a respectful and loving husband but turns into an abusive man who kills her in the end. Brabantio, Desdemona's father, was a close friend of Othello in the stories that take place before the events of the play, but this relationship comes to an end after he discovers Othello has secretly married his daughter.
Othello is friends with many of the men he works with and for, including Cassio and Iago. Othello recently promoted Cassio to be his second-in-command, yet, this relationship with Cassio, like the one with Desdemona, spirals into hate when Othello believes Cassio to be having an affair with his wife. Othello's perceived relationship with Iago is the longest lasting "positive" relationship in the play, as Othello does not learn of Iago's plans and influence in Othello's killing of Desdemona until the last scenes of the play. Up until the end of the play, Othello believes Iago to be a close friend - unaware of the venom dripping from Iago's mouth.
Laurence Fishburne as Othello and Irène Jacob as Desdemona in Othello (1995)
What type of character is Othello?
What type of character is Othello?
As the titular character, Othello serves as the Protagonist of the play. According to MasterClass, the protagonist should have "a logical backstory, personal motivation, and a character arc over the course of the story" and be the character the audience is most invested in (MasterClass Staff). The first act of Othello greatly sets up these key points for Othello being the protagonist, even going as far as having Othello telling his backstory and talking of how it was his story that made Desdemona fall in love with him.
Additionally, Othello serves as a Round character and a Dynamic character, which MasterClass defines as being "a major character who shows fluidity and the capacity for change from the moment we meet them. By contrast, some dynamic protagonists do not change until actions in the story force that change" (MasterClass Editors). The audience sees Othello's susceptibility in the first act of the play as Iago, who a few scenes earlier was insulting Othello behind his back, stands beside him and supports him in front of the officials who have summoned Othello. Othello believes everything Iago tells him, and as Iago's plan is set in motion, Othello begins to change into a man the audience can no longer recognize.
“She loved me for the dangers I had passed,
“She loved me for the dangers I had passed,
And I loved her that she did pity them” (I.III.193-194)
And I loved her that she did pity them” (I.III.193-194)
What is Othello's role in the play?
What is Othello's role in the play?
In Othello, the titular character is a great military leader in Venice, and with this position comes power and responsibility. "The Venetian government trusts Othello enough to put him in full martial and political command of Cyprus; indeed, in his dying speech, Othello reminds the Venetians of the 'service' he has done their state" (SparkNotes Editors Characters: Othello). Without Othello's status and decisions while in power, the plot, driven by Iago's plan, would not have occurred as Othello's promotion of Cassio to his right-hand instead of Iago is what pushes him to come up with his plan.
In addition to providing the motive for the plot-driver, Othello acts as an unaware pawn in Iago's plan. He falls for Iago's honey-dripped words and takes them at face value, resulting in him losing everything he has: his wife, status, mind, and life.
Laurence Fishburne as Othello (right) and Kenneth Branagh as Iago (left) in 1995 movie Othello
Laurence Fishburne as Othello (right) and Kenneth Branagh as Iago (left) in 1995 movie Othello
What major conflicts does Othello have?
What major conflicts does Othello have?
There are two main conflicts that Othello struggles with during the plot of the play: his differentness to those around him and the thought of Desdemona's unfaithfulness.
The greatest and most obvious difference between Othello and the world he is part of in Venice is the color of his skin. He may live among the Venetians, but his origins and life history separate him from others, and whenever people "look at his black face, however brilliant a general he is, he knows the others are thinking 'Yes, but he is not really one of us'" (McCulloch and Carey). This feeling is greatly implemented in the dialogue and staging of Othello as Othello "is a black face among a sea of white faces, and he is constantly referred to as 'The Moor,' a representative African, while others go by their personal names and are seen as independent individuals" (McCulloch and Carey).
Iago's plan is one of the smoothest among Shakespeare's villains, as Iago's comments and tricks completely convince Othello that Desdemona, his wife, is having an affair with Cassio, his right-hand-man. When Iago first begins mentioning the "relationship" between Desdemona and Cassio, Othello is quick to doubt and refuse and demands proof. Othello "flusters Desdemona when she cannot produce a handkerchief he has given her; he 'overhears' Cassio speaking of his affair with Desdemona; he sees the handkerchief in the hands of Cassio’s mistress. Now convinced that Desdemona has betrayed his love, Othello’s only option is to kill her" (Othello Comprehensive Storyform). Desdemona pleads innocence and begs for her life when Othello faces her, but Othello, having complete faith in Iago, smothers Desdemona and kills her.
How does Othello change overall?
How does Othello change overall?
Just like in Othello's conflicts, Othello changes in two major ways. The first is in his character, and the second is in his life status.
In the beginning and throughout the play, Othello is shown and spoken of being "a hero of war and a man of great pride and courage [...], a happy newlywed; successful as a warrior and well respected in the community"(Othello Comprehensive Storyform). But as the play, and Iago's plan, continues Othello begins to deteriorate and become less and less of the man he was known as. One great example of this change is his attitude towards Desdemona: going from a loving husband to " striking her in public, calling her a whore, and murdering her in an unfounded jealous rage" (Othello Comprehensive Storyform). Eventually, when the truth of Iago's plan comes out, Othello's actions, including his abuse and murder of his wife, come to haunt him and he kills himself out of guilt.
Joanna Vanderham as Desdemona and Hugh Quarshie as Othello in the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2015 adaption of Othello
“I kissed thee ere I killed thee: no way but this,
“I kissed thee ere I killed thee: no way but this,
Killing myself, to die upon a kiss” (V.II.420-421)
Killing myself, to die upon a kiss” (V.II.420-421)
Othello (1880–1881) Painted by Edouard Frederic Wilhelm Richter
Works Cited
Works Cited
MasterClass Staff. “Writing 101: All the Different Types of Characters in Literature - 2021.” MasterClass, 2 Sept. 2021, www.masterclass.com/articles/guide-to-all-the-types-of-characters-in-literature#5-character-types-that-appear-in-fiction.
McCulloch, Helen, and Gary Carey. “Character Anaylsis Othello.” Othello, CliffNotes, 15 July 2021, www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/o/othello/character-analysis/othello.
“Othello Comprehensive Storyform.” Othello - Analysis - Dramatica, Dramatica, dramatica.com/analysis/othello.
SparkNotes Editor. “Characters: Character List.” Othello: Character List, SparkNotes, www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/othello/characters/.
SparkNotes Editors. “Characters: Othello.” Othello: Othello, SparkNotes, www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/othello/character/othello/.
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