Have you ever wondered if you have a purpose in your life to fulfill? Is it to become the most famous actor, singer, rapper, or is it to become the best basketball player in the league? Whatever your purpose is, you have one. In the play Othello by Shakespeare, there is one character called Roderigo. He is a fundamental character and has a huge effect on three main things. Those three things are plot, theme, and character. For example, Roderigo affects the plot as he helps Iago in his plan, in theme he contributes to the many themes in the play; as he is a victim to overbearing jealously, and finally he shows what characters are truly like.
First of all plot is the most important part of a play. Without a good plot a story will not be enjoyable. In the play Roderigo plays a huge part in plot, as he contributes to the conflict involved in the tragedy of Othello. An example of this is when Roderigo exclaims, “Tush! Never tell me; I take it much unkindly/ that thou, Iago, who hast had my purse / As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this” (I.i.1-3). This quotation is shows that Roderigo has been paying Iago so that he can come up with a scheme to get him Desdemona and he is mad at Iago for not knowing that Desdemona is marrying Othello and places the blame on him.
Another example of how Roderigo plays an affect on plot is when he helps assists Iago in his plan of revenge upon Othello. He helps Iago in many ways, such as when Iago tells him to tell Barbantio of what happened to his daughter and the Moor. This is shown when the author writes, “Awake! What ho, Brabantio! Thieves! / thieves! thieves! / Look to your home, your daughter, and your bags! / Thieves! Thieves!” (I.i.86-88)” In this quotation Iago tells Roder...
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Furthermore, Roderigo helps show how Iago is a lair and will make many false promises to assure people that he will get the job done. This is shown when Iago is talking to Roderigo and he has suspicion towards what Iago is saying. Shakespeare writes, “I grant indeed it hath not appeared, and your / suspicion is not without wit and judgment. But, / Roderigo, if thou hast that in thee indeed, which / I have greater reason to believe now than ever—I / mean purpose, courage and valor—this night show / it. If thou the next night following enjoy not Desdemona, / take me from this world with treachery and / devise engines for my life” (IV.ii.242-250). This quotation shows that Iago will make false promises in order to gain his trust back with Roderigo. He goes as far as to say if he does not have intercourse with Desdemona by tomorrow night, he may slay Iago.
...e used Roderigo to do his dirty work and without him he would have never been able to compromise Cassio in the first place. Roderigo seems to know Iago the best, possibly having figured out that he may have been betrayed by him, he writes letters he keeps with him which later serve to compromise Iago’s character and motives completely. Iago throughout the whole play feels like he is justified in his actions and does not let sympathy or understanding as a result.
For Shakespeare’s Iago, humans are affected by their emotions - these can be empowering or debilitating. Literature naturally mirrors this and within Othello Iago is empowered by Roderigo’s infatuated debilitation. In Act I Scene III, Roderigo is brought into a deep despair due to his inability to court Desdemona. He proclaims, “I will incontinently drown myself”; the hyperbole represents how much he craves for Desdemona. However, Roderigo is not the focal point; it is in fact Iago who feeds off his vulnerability by manipulating him into fighting with Cassio. This represents Iago’s Machiavellian nature in that he is able to make Roderigo give him money as well as bringing Cassio into a state of fury; this is so he is stripped of his Lieutenant rank and in turn promoting Iago to Lieutenant. This parallels what Iago’s monologue at the very end of Act I Scene III is trying to establish; the foreshadowing of the events that will occur. In a way this does allow for the concept that through Iago’s seeming adversity, he has strengthened his motives. On the other hand, Rodrigo’s adversities have led him down a path of turbulence making
	The first scene of Act I illustrates Iago's use of manipulation. Iago knows that Roderigo is upset about losing Desdemona to Othello. Iago himself is angry at Othello for being passed over for promotion to lieutenant for Michael Cassio. Realizing that by playing on Roderigo's jealousy he can gain an ally to work against Othello. Iago does this in a subtle manner. He explains to Roderigo that he was passed up for promotion by Othello. While doing this he makes Othello look inferior by reinforcing the fact that he is a Moor. By pointing out that Othello is a Moor Iago causes Roderigo to become even more jealous, because of the fact that he lost Desdemona to someone who he feels is of a lesser race. It even seems that Iago is toying with Roderigo when he reveals that he is a fraud when he says, "I am not what I am." (I.i.62) By using these tactics, Iago has almost gained total control of Roderigo.
Iago has a close friend named, Roderigo, he loves Desdemona and wishes she loved him back. Iago starts his scheme by saying “I am not what I am”(I.i.71). This is one of many warnings that Iago gives the people that he schemes against. This warning is telling him that what you see is not what you are going to get. One can also elude from this warning that he will only let you see what he wants you to see. One can see that Iago is clearly going to lie to Roderigo by that single statement. The statement alone should shoot red flags up in anyone’s mind. Once Roderigo gets Brabantio out of bed; Iago says something strange to Roderigo, “Though I do hate him as I do hell, yet, for necessity of present life, I must show out a flag and sign of love”(I.i.171-173). Subsequently warning Roderigo about how he lies to people, Iago expects Roderigo to trust him. Unfortunately Roderigo falls into the trap and trusts Iago. Well along Cassio loses his lieutenancy Roderigo is discombobulated. He begins complaining about things Iago asked him to trust him with; corresponding his money, him getting into a ...
In the first scene we are thrown right into the action with the argument between Iago and Roderigo. This first argument shows us how Iago is cunning and sly because he has already manipulated a weak Roderigo into paying him for something he hasn't even done yet. Roderigo who is obviously weak and simple has asked Iago to help him woo Desdemona in exchange for money, he thinks Iago has not done this because Desdemona is now at this moment marrying the moor. Yet Iago manages to convince Roderigo of his sheer hatred for Othello and swindle him out of his money. As he later exerts in his soliloquy at the end of Act I.3 ' thus do I ever make my fool my purse' this shows his attitude to Roderigo he is just money for Iago a pawn in his plan. This attitude shows how to a certain extent Iago primes the character he will use later in his plan showing a consistent strategy, he knows he can use Roderigo in the future so keeps him on his side instead of being rude and sharp with him. You can see that Iago finds Roderigo tedious but keeps him a friend for his money and possible use in the future.
With Roderigo, someone he commands control over, Iago employs pathos, allowing his plan to appeal to Roderigo’s sensitive emotions about Othello. Roderigo and Iago discuss about how each of them despise Othello when Iago says, “If ever I did dream of such a matter, / Abhor me” using pathos to confirm his hatred towards the General (1.2. 5-6). The play commences with Iago employing direct rhetoric and partnering up with Roderigo to enhance a sense of comradery. Harsh language such as “Abhor me”, exemplifies the hateful emotions Iago feels toward Othello as well as enhances the emotions Iago wants to appeal to in Roderigo (1.2. 6). Affecting Roderigo more influentially, Iago uses deeper, more personal pathos, by highlighting the seemingly good qualities in Roderigo. Iago contrasts Roderigo to Othello pointing out, “Let not they discreet heart think it…manners and beauties: all which the/ Moor is defective in” (2.1. 215, 219-220). Firstly, Iago weighs Roderigo’s positive qualities against Othello’s negatives ones, convincing Roderigo to feel more confident with Iago and following along with his scheme. Secondly, Iago alters this rhetoric to include Roderigo’s love interest, Desdemona. By exemplifying a more personal and sensitive side when talking about “manners and beauties”, Iago can create a bigger impact in
Roderigo is consumed by jealousy. Roderigo is jealous of the marriage of Othello and Desdemona. Roderigo loves Desdemona. With romance in Roderigo is able to be controlled by Iago thinking the down fall 0f Othello and Cassio would get Roderigo Desdemona. Roderigo is the biggest pawn Iago possesses. And probably the saddest character in the whole drama.
The three characters of Iago, Desdemona and Othello are gradually revealed to the audience as Act One unfolds. All three are linked to one another and talk to and about each other. Their characters unfold through their interaction with others and how they behave in isolation. The first impression formed of Iago comes from what Roderigo says. Being gullible, Roderigo has given Iago his purse. A character who accepts an offer like this is likely to be of doubtful reputation. The first words spoken by Iago are a strong oath. Already it is obvious that he has little respect for religion. Iago also sees little point in fighting purely in theory. He despises Cassio, partly because he has never fought physically. It becomes apparent that Iago is the dominant one in his "friendship" with Roderigo. He talks the most and has many opinions. Iago looks down upon those who serve others and explains that he is only serving Othello for his own gain:
Roderigo is an emotional and fool-minded Venetian man that is in love with Desdemona. Roderigo’s life is tortured by his unceasing and unreciprocated love for Desdemona. After Iago tells Roderigo of Desdemona’s secret marriage to Othello, Roderigo feels there is no longer a will to live and says, “It is silliness to live when to live is torment.” (Othello. Act 1 Scene 3: 350.). Iago takes advantage of Roderigo’s sadness and assures Roderigo that if he does as Iago tells him, he will get Desdemona’s love. Iago does not in any way help Roderigo attain the love that consu...
As much as Iago was using Roderigo, Roderigo was using Iago to try and separate Othello from Desdemona. Roderigo’s extreme feelings make him easily manipulated and unable...
Roderigo begins with a small jealousy of Othello for being married to Desdemona. It isn't until Iago makes Roderigo believe Desdemona does not really love Othello that Roderigo becomes destructive. Iago tells Roderigo, "It cannot be that Desdemona should long continue...
One person Iago deceives is Roderigo. Throughout the play, Iago tells him that he hates Othello and that Roderigo should make some money so he could give gifts to Desdemona, who he admires from afar. Thinking that this is sound advice, Roderigo does just that. However, Iago is actually keeping the gifts that Roderigo plans to give Desdemona for himself. Eventually, Roderigo begins to catch on to the act and confronts Iago, but he falls right into Iago’s trap again when he tells him that killing Cassio will help him win over Desdemona. Roderigo is then lead to his death by the hands of "Honest Iago."
Though the name of the play written by William Shakespeare is called "Othello," the character Othello is not the main character, but rather Iago is. Iago is the character who drives the play, he is the one who makes things happen. Without his greed and hated, there would be no play at all. The whole play is centered around Iago's revenge and in doing so, he is willing to make other people's lives miserable. Through "Othello," Iago uses the other characters to avenge the wrong doings which Othello has inflicted upon him, and will go to any means to do so.
In Shakespeare’s play, Othello, several incidents occur that portray the purpose of Roderigo’s character. If one event is isolated from the rest, the thematic desire is lost. It is only when the events are looked at as a whole that the actual theme is obtained. Roderigo is a minor character who plays a vital role in the play. Although Roderigo has very few lines, he plays a crucial role on a thematic level.
Roderigo blindly follows Iago’s lead and while his contribution to the disaster is minimal at best, he still is able to feed Iago’s desire for revenge, as all the characters do. The only difference between Roderigo and the other characters is how he does it. Roderigo is madly in love with Desdemona and wants her for himself. The first sign of Roderigo’s desires comes from Barbantio when he speaks: “I have charged thee not to haunt my doors:/In honest plainness thou hast heard me say/My daughter is not for thee…”(I, i)