The Variety of Characters in Shakespeare's Othello

The Variety of Characters in Othello

William Shakespeare has many ways of illustrating his characters through way of dialogue and language patterns. This is his trademark and it is his ultimate strategy for drawing his reader closer, until they are completely immersed in his play. In Othello we see that a character like Iago has been given a very rough and coldhearted aura about him, which in time shows us as readers how cruel he really is. On the contrary Othello himself is rather noble in his speech, but overall just as clever. These characters are clever in their own separate ways: Othello in living a double life of both war and love (which seems to keep him tied to the battlefield, a danger zone) and Iago is clever in his ways of manipulating an entire lot of people to get what he wants. Any excerpt from the play Othello shows how clever Shakespeare is in his own ways, writing traits that cannot be ignored.

A good example of witty Shakespearean playwriting is in the opening Act of Othello- Act I, Scene i., pg. 78-92. The use of language in this Scene is so classic- for example the way Iago and Roderigo play off of each other in speech. Their goal in the middle of the night is to wake Brabantio (Desdemona's father) and tell him of the extravagant affair between Othello and her daughter. In the streets of Venice these men holler their way up to his chambers, arising him to the balcony. Shakespeare's choice of speech is so affective, and so perfect.

Roderigo: Signor (a question of his authority), is all your Family within?

Iago: Are your Doors locked? (Instigating panic)

[Roderigo/Iago:I.i.87-89]

Shakespeare's choice of words here is beautiful in its shrewdness, and in so many ways affective. Iago in particular seems to push the situation, and operate the conversation as he always does. He goes on to tell Brabantio his state of confusion and in many ways hypnotize the poor man.

Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul…an old black Ram is tupping your white Ewe. [Iago:I.i.89-91]

Shakespeare gives Iago's character such filth, such a stench in the air about him that you can smell it while reading. Here is a character in Othello that is hard to understand, and there have been many views taken on his role.