Free College Essays - Roles of Cassio, Roderigo, and Brabantio in Shakespeare's Othello

Roles of Cassio, Roderigo, and Brabantio in Othello

From Shakespeare's play Othello, this paper will be discussing the roles

of Cassio, Roderigo and Brabantio, and their functions.

First, Cassio. Cassio is an honourable lieutenant and a soldier, who is

very loyal and caring towards his commanding officer, Othello, as shown

in one of many places, act two scene one line 45-48 when he is concerned

about Othello's well being because he has been lost at sea and says:

Thanks, you the valiant of this warlike isle, That so approve the Moor! O,

let the heavens Give him the defense against the elements, For I have lost

him on a dangerous sea

In the beginning of the play Cassio is appointed to the position of

lieutenant by Othello, so Cassio at first has his highest respect, until

later in the play where Othello believes he is having an affair with

Desdemona. Cassio's role in the play is not one of the extremely

important ones. His main function is to be a figure who's actions are

partially responsible for Othello believing that his wife is cheating on

him. For example, Cassio asking for Desdemona's help leads to the two of

them being seen together, which is in act three scene three line 35. In

the end of the play, Cassio becomes the governor in Cyprus after the

former Governor, Othello, commits suicide, in act five scene two from

line 366-378, which shows another of his functions, to act as one of the

means which ties up the loose ends at the end of the play.

Now, Roderigo. Roderigo is a foolish, cheated, gulled, dimwit.

Basically, his function in the play is to act as a lackey towards Iago.

His obedience towards Iago can be compared to that of Lennie Small

towards George Milton in the book Of Mice and Men, By John Steinbeck.

He does whatever Iago tells him to do, consistently in the hope of

obtaining Desdemona's love. He never realizes that his chances for ever