Character Role Development Relationship with other characters Critical responses
• Noble and Dignified:
Othello is known as “The Valiant Moor” and his elevated status acts as the moving factor of the Play.People look up to him and trust in him. Compared to Christ.
• Outsider: Despite his
religion being Christianity, he does not fit in with Venetian society and culture and is insecure about this
• Honest and Trusting:
Perhaps to the extent of naivety, Othello puts faith in his subordinates and frequently shares how he feels openly
• Jealous: Hamartia
• Calm and Rational: Speaks
eloquently and respectfully to mirror his important status
• Violent and animalistic:
Goes down a violent and hellish spiral of despair, confusing fate + free will
• Tragic hero: His hamartia of
jealousy and being easily manipulated by people and societal conventions enables the destruction of his relationship
• Passive: Othello is not driving
the play forward despite being the protagonist; he is spurred into action by every other character until the very end when he takes his fate into his own hands
• Peacemaker: Linked to his
status, he is a peacemaker until he is in his vicious spiral of hatred and wishes death upon innocent people.Paradoxical with his military status and conventions society puts on him. His decision to kill Desdemona is following the law
• Captivating: He has exotic
appeal, especially in a Shakespearean and Venetian society context. Furthers his position as outsider
• Hubris: Othello’s
refusal to change his mind after being convinced of her infidelity. This is linked to his animalistic tendencies
• Insecurity: Encouraged
by his racial difference, Othello is unable to assimilate in societal fully ever
• Fate and Free Will: At
the climax, Othello wholeheartedly believes he must kill Desdemona as that is her fate. He immediately regrets this, and the idea is left open
• Victim: Of Iago and
Venetian society, mirrors his origins
• Violent spiral:
Animalistic and demonic transgression against morality and God, he is made to be a monster by Iago
• Desdemona: Iago calls
her “the true general”.Their relationship is initially true and loving if unequal.
• Iago: Trust for Iago
increases over time, and begins mirroring his gestures and way of speaking
• Cassio: Key role in
Othello’s insecurities.His trust in him is slowly destroyed and he acts as a comparison.
• Brabantio: Acts calmly
and openly to him, whilst Brabantio accuses him in a racist and sexist way. Cliché Shakespearean father
• Venetian society: A
cultural outsider, whilst he is competent at military operations he fails to understand conventions. Highlights background Neo-Classicist Samuel
Johnson:
"the fiery openness of Othello"
Romanticist William Hazlitt:
Othello has great "depth of passion", evokes a lot of pathos. Sympathizes with Othello, says he's "noble".
Romanticist Samuel Coleridge:
Othello DIDN'T kill Des out of jealousy, but because of Iago's manipulation. Othello isn't to blame.
T.S Eliot:
Othello's final speech was a "terrible exposure of human weakness". He is more concerned with himself and “self-dramatization.” Modern critic interpretation of
“otherness”: Othello is “other”
incarnate because of his blackness.
Feminist Lisa Jardine:
Othello killing Desdemona was silencing a powerful female voice.
Marxist criticism: The
relationships and power between master and ensign.
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