It is a common misconception to say that Roderigo is an inferior character in Othell, and that he plays no major role due to his simple superobjective which he does not achieve—which is to be with Desdemona by whatever means necessary. However, Shakespeare’s purpose for Roderigo, which makes him important to the play, is quite different from what Roderigo desires. Roderigo’s superobjective is introduced in the first act as we see Roderigo and Iago confront Brabantio about the whereabouts of Desdemona. In the first act we also see how badly Roderigo longs to be with Desdemona when he says that “I will incontinently drown myself” (I.iii.305). We begin to see the power Iago has over Roderigo and because of this Roderigo begins to appear weak and indecisive. This weakness derives from how desperate Roderigo is to be with Desdemona.
Roderigo’s Achilles' heel is his love and desire to be with Desdemona. Roderigo had asked Brabantio for Desdemona prior to the first act. Even Brabantio regrets not giving Desdemona to Roderigo, “O, would you had had her” (I.i.174). Iago immediately recognizes Roderigo’s fault and begins to take full advantage of him. It is easy to say that Roderigo was the fool of the play because Iago toys with his emotions, but Roderigo was one of the closest characters to Iago.
Roderigo
Thou told’st me thou didst hold him in thy hate.
Iago
Despise me if I do not. Three great ones of the city,
In personal suit to make me his lieutenant,
Off-capped to him; and, by the faith of man,
I know my price; I am worth no worse a place (I.i.7-11)
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...
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...a lot about Roderigo’s character and what he is willing to do to be with Desdemona.
Roderigo never does achieve his superobjective for he dies by the hands of Iago. For this reason some see Roderigo as being weak, however I think it shows how deceiving Iago is and how dedicated Roderigo was to his superobjective. Roderigo went as far as he could to achieve his superobjective, and just as he said, “It is silliness to live when to live is torment, and then have we a prescription to die when death is our physician” (I.iii.307-310). In the end Roderigo fulfills is promise and dies attempting to achieve his superobjective—separating Desdemona away from Othello so that Roderigo could be with her. However, Roderigo does serve a greater purpose and fulfills the role Shakespeare had assigned him by being the catalyst to the falling action which led to the tragic ending.
...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.
Iago tells Roderigo that he can make Desdemona fall in love with him for a ‘small fee.’ Iago used Roderigo to make money. Iago also told Roderigo that Cassio was talking to Desdemona. Roderigo did not approve and Iago persuaded him to fight Cassio. Cassio ended up losing his ‘good reputation” and his position as Lieutenant, in the fight with Roderigo. Iago became the Lieutenant, just as he had
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
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.
Roderigo is rejecting, 'Tush, Never tell me', what Iago has. just said and is angry as Iago has not informed him that Desdemona has eloped with Othello, a black general hired by the city of Venice to protect it from the Turks. Iago has apparently been helping Roderigo. win Desdemona, daughter of the rich merchant Brabantio, heart, in. return for money 'Iago, who hast had my purse As if the strings were.
Roderigo for being gullible and too easily duped into Iago's plans. He believes that he will have a chance with Desdemona. For example, "put money in thy purse" shows how clever Iago is with his subtle techniques of persuasion.
After realizing how much Desdemona loved Othello, and how she didn?t love him, Roderigo became so despaired that he was prepared to commit suicide, but was talked out of it by Iago. This reaction by Roderigo is exaggerated by Shakespeare from the normal reaction of someone in the same situation. These points all show how the actions of characters consumed by despair or hopelessness were exaggerated in the play.
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.
Throughout the story, Roderigo has minimal interaction with main characters aside from Iago. He is always present at the scene but never takes a significant part in it. Although he still travels to Venice and Cyprus with the rest of group, he never is physically seen taking part in any decisions (Othello). This also is included in how he has become a person with no real power or stance. Throughout the story, Shakespeare purposefully creates Roderigo to take on this role to allow Iago to carry out his plan.
Iago takes on many different persona’s to enact his plan of revenge upon Othello. He plays the friend, a trustworthy and credible source of information for Othello in his feat of drama with his innocent wife, Desdemona. He also plays the wingman for Roderigo who is madly in love with Desdemona, encouraging him to make advances towards her to woo Desdemona away from Othello. Iago even persuades Roderigo to kill Cassio with his lies about Cassio and Desdemona’s affair. “...you may take him at your pleasure: I will be near to second your attempt, and he shall fall between us.” Iago promises to assist Roderigo in the murder of Cassio and he will be rewarded with Desdemona’s love (Navigators.) Iago’s true persona, though, is a heartless, woman-hating villain who would go to great lengths to get revenge against Othello for preferring Cassio over him for the military promotion.
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."
Roderigo is foolish and even at times unusually feeble-minded. This explained partially by Roderigo's jealousy: he is infatuated with Desdemona and has been for some time. He is willing to do anything to win her love. He is jealous that Desdemona loves Othello and not him.
Roderigo learns about the elopement of the Moor and Desdemona. He questions Iago in pursuit of the money he has given him in order to woo Desdemona. These lines show that even before the play begins, Iago greatly influences Roderigo. The relationship and trust the two characters have is made apparent through the first lines. Iago takes enjoyment in influencing people, as seen through his first soliloquy.