OTHELLO’S MAJOR CHARACTERS
OTHELLO 
• Othello is the first great 
black protagonist in 
Western literature. 
• He is a general in the army 
of Venice who is described 
as a Moor, a native of 
North Africa. 
• He is a strong, well-respected 
soldier. 
• He is an eloquent and 
physically powerful figure.
• Also, He has a negative qualities, such as include 
insecurity regarding his race, being naive and lacking 
control his emotions. 
• Despite his power and respect as a soldier,he is still 
very naive and insecure. 
• These qualities prove to be his fatal flaw, a weakness in 
his personality.
• ‘’The play dramatizes this hero's fall from grace 
– Othello begins as a noble guy (he's a 
celebrated and respected war hero, a loving 
husband, and an eloquent storyteller) but, by the 
end of the play, Othello has become an 
irrational, violent, and insanely jealous husband 
who murders his own wife after Iago convinces 
him that Desdemona has been unfaithful.’’
DESDEMONA 
-She is a central character. 
She is a young Venetian 
beauty who is adored by her 
father, Brabanzio. 
-She goes against traditional 
Venetian custom by marrying 
an outsider, a black man 
named Othello instead of one 
of the rich Venetian men she is 
expected to marry.
• Othello explains that Desdemona is marrying him 
because he is adventurous and she loves his stories 
and lifestyle. 
• In the beginning of the play, Desdemona was a strong 
woman who defied traditional Venetian beliefs, but as 
the story goes on, her strength is weakened and her 
relationship with her husband diminishes. Her 
independence slowly shifts over to obedience.
IAGO 
• Iago is the antagonist in the play 
'Othello' by William 
Shakespeare. His jealousy and 
envy causes him to destroy the 
lives of his boss Othello and his 
boss's wife, Desdemona. 
• Iago is one of the most notorious 
and mysterious villains of all 
time. 
• He becomes angry and vengeful 
when he is passed over for 
promotion. A less experienced 
soldier, Cassio, is promoted to 
lieutenant instead of Iago.
CASSIO 
• Cassio is a soldier in the Venetian 
army. Also, he is Othello’s lieutenant. 
• He is a young and inexperienced 
soldier, whose high position is much 
resented by Iago. 
• Cassio is a weak man who does not 
anticipate the manipulative nature of 
others.

Othello characters

  • 2.
  • 3.
    OTHELLO • Othellois the first great black protagonist in Western literature. • He is a general in the army of Venice who is described as a Moor, a native of North Africa. • He is a strong, well-respected soldier. • He is an eloquent and physically powerful figure.
  • 4.
    • Also, Hehas a negative qualities, such as include insecurity regarding his race, being naive and lacking control his emotions. • Despite his power and respect as a soldier,he is still very naive and insecure. • These qualities prove to be his fatal flaw, a weakness in his personality.
  • 5.
    • ‘’The playdramatizes this hero's fall from grace – Othello begins as a noble guy (he's a celebrated and respected war hero, a loving husband, and an eloquent storyteller) but, by the end of the play, Othello has become an irrational, violent, and insanely jealous husband who murders his own wife after Iago convinces him that Desdemona has been unfaithful.’’
  • 6.
    DESDEMONA -She isa central character. She is a young Venetian beauty who is adored by her father, Brabanzio. -She goes against traditional Venetian custom by marrying an outsider, a black man named Othello instead of one of the rich Venetian men she is expected to marry.
  • 7.
    • Othello explainsthat Desdemona is marrying him because he is adventurous and she loves his stories and lifestyle. • In the beginning of the play, Desdemona was a strong woman who defied traditional Venetian beliefs, but as the story goes on, her strength is weakened and her relationship with her husband diminishes. Her independence slowly shifts over to obedience.
  • 8.
    IAGO • Iagois the antagonist in the play 'Othello' by William Shakespeare. His jealousy and envy causes him to destroy the lives of his boss Othello and his boss's wife, Desdemona. • Iago is one of the most notorious and mysterious villains of all time. • He becomes angry and vengeful when he is passed over for promotion. A less experienced soldier, Cassio, is promoted to lieutenant instead of Iago.
  • 9.
    CASSIO • Cassiois a soldier in the Venetian army. Also, he is Othello’s lieutenant. • He is a young and inexperienced soldier, whose high position is much resented by Iago. • Cassio is a weak man who does not anticipate the manipulative nature of others.