Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

Othello: Roderigo in-Depth Character Analysis

Good Essays
452 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Othello: Roderigo in-Depth Character Analysis
Roderigo is a Venetian is a rejected suitor of Desdemona. His desire for Desdemona’s love is very strong in which it leads him to turn evil. He becomes Iago's follower, he wounds and becomes wounded by Cassio in an unsuccessful attempt to murder the lieutenant, and later he is killed by Iago.
Roderigo is identified as easy to be manipulated. Roderigo is gullible; he believes everything Iago tells him and does everything Iago tells him to do. At the beginning of the play, Roderigo alerts Brabantio, under Iago’s command, about Desdemona eloping with the Moor. He sails with Iago to Cyprus and later serves as a pawn in Iago's plan to ruin Othello and Cassios’ lives. At the instruction of Iago, Roderigo starts a fight with Cassio while Iago sits back and watches during the general celebration. Later, he attacks Cassio in the dark and wounds him, while Cassio manages to wound Roderigo back. Iago has tricked Roderigo into giving him all his money in an attempt to negotiate with Desdemona and thinks the tasks Iago assigns to Roderigo are intended only to remove Cassio as a possible rival toward Desdemona. Although his actions are cruel and evil, he does display a measure of sympathy in the way that he is so easily manipulated and ultimately betrayed by Iago, who later stabs the wounded Roderigo in the dark in order to hide his involvement in Cassio’s assault.
Roderigo is continually threatening to quit his pursuit of Desdemona and stop giving Iago money for his intervention in that matter. Each time he does so, Iago assures him that Desdemona's attraction to Othello is only physical and that she will tire of the Moor fairly quickly. Iago suggests that Roderigo's best course of action is to accumulate a solid financial foundation. Iago tells Roderigo over and over to "Put money in thy purse" (341-360), implying that, when Desdemona has satisfied her sexual lust, she will be attracted to the rich and stable sort of man. At one point, in his frustration at not realizing his goal, Roderigo says, "It is silliness to live, when to live is torment" (.308). He apologizes for being so silly but says he does not have the "virtue" to change, to which Iago responds, "Virtue? a fig! 'tis in ourselves we are thus or thus" (320). Iago maintains that men make of themselves what they desire to be; men do not follow a course predetermined by any inner qualities. Iago's advice seems to renew Roderigo's resolve even as his threatened suicide gives evidence to the intensity of his longing for Desdemona.

http://www.enotes.com/othello/roderigo-character-analysis

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    However, the motivation behind their deceit differs in each text. In Othello, the opening scene shows Iago talking lengthily with Roderigo about his dislike for Othello. He reveals his intentions to falsely appear loyal to him in order to gain his trust and manipulate him without being suspected. It should be noted that he also fails to use Othello by his name, referring to him as ‘he’, ‘the Moor’, ‘his Moorship’ and as a ‘Barbary horse, which show his disrespect for Othello and the grand magnitude of his malevolence.…

    • 517 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Roderigo is unknowingly exploited for money and manipulated during Iago’s personal quest of vengeance against Othello. Many times Roderigo and Iago both reference to the prominent fact that Roderigo is Iago’s beneficiary, his money bag, but what Roderigo does not realise is that he is in fact continuing to provide for non-existent results and is being misused by Iago. Roderigo is honest in his lust for Desdemona and Iago deceives him with it. Upon Roderigo’s acceptance of defeat and surrender it is Iago that persuades him to keep on, and to “put money in thy purse” - Act 1: Scene 3. He repeats and reuses this phrase to emphasise their meaning throughout his debate for Roderigo to persist in the pursuit of Desdemona (i.e. money for Iago). Roderigo is but a trust fund and dupe in Iago’s grand scheme against Othello.…

    • 831 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Similarly, Roderigo believes he has a close relationship with Iago but he is actually being manipulated and not accepted at all by Iago. Roderigo listens to Iago and gives him all his money in the hopes of being able to have Desdemona. The repetition…

    • 949 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many characters in the Shakespearian play, Othello, are deceived by the clever and flattering Iago. Early on in the play, Iago is trying to get his plans against Othello into motion. He meticulously chooses vulnerable characters to help carry out his vengeful scheme. Roderigo is one of the many susceptible characters who fall for Iago’s tricks. Iago catches Roderigo in a very vulnerable state and carefully plants his own scheme into Roderigo’s mind. Iago wants Roderigo to keep fighting for Desdemona despite her marriage to Othello. He tells him “Seek thou rather be hazed in compassing thy joy then to be drowned without her” (1.3 353-355). Iago flatters Roderigo by making him believe he has a chance with Desdemona and to fight for her using…

    • 174 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Correspondingly, In Othello, Iago begins the play by working for Roderigo as his personal spy. Roderigo pays Iago to help him pursue Desdemona. Iago plans to drain Roderigo of his earnings, but soon realizes it is not enough to please him. Iago wanted the promotion of Lieutenant, but lost it to Othello's best friend Cassio. In revenge, Iago acts on his personal hatred for Othello, and comes to the conclusion that he too, wants Desdemona. This shows that despite Cassio and Othello's higher rank over Iago, Iago will ultimately have the most power by hurting Othello's pride.…

    • 797 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Roderigo was a very gullible man and he is jealous for what wasn’t his. He believes whatever Iago told him. Roderigo loves Desdemona so when he heard the news from Iago he was heartbroken. “What a full fortune does the Thick-lips owe If he can carry’t thus” (1.1.68)! Roderigo was jealous of Othello for getting marry to Desdemona. Iago used this time to tell Roderigo that they can break Othello and Desdemona up by calling for her father. “Call up her father. Rouse him. Make after…

    • 749 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Who Is Roderigo In Act 1

    • 1835 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Desdemona begs to go with Othello in Cyprus. The Duke allows it and the Duke, Senators, and attendants leave, followed by Othello and Desdemona. Roderigo bemoans his inability to gain Desdemona’s marriage. He claims he wishes to drown himself. Iago attempts to comfort him by emphasizing that he…

    • 1835 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Othello Questions

    • 1710 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Iago wants to kill Roderigo because of all the terrible names he had called Othello and that his conscious held him back…

    • 1710 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Othello

    • 612 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Desdemona, (I.iii.395) “Put money in thy purse.” Iago says Desdemona will soon lose interest in the Moor, (I.iii.384-387) “It cannot be that Desdemona should long continue her love to the Moor First, Iago betrays the wealthy Roderigo by taking advantage of his wealth and love for Desdemona. Iago tells Roderigo that he will deliver Roderigo’s jewels to e Moor – put money in thy purse – nor his to her.” Instead of giving the jewels to Desdemona Iago pockets them for his own selfish profit, (IV.ii.216 – 222) “With naught but truth. I have wasted myself out of my means. The jewels you have had from me to deliver to Desdemona would half have corrupted a votaress. You have told she hath received them, and returned me expectations and comforts of sudden respect and acquaintance, but I find none.…

    • 612 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Othello And 1984 Analysis

    • 931 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Due to Roderigo not being involved in what Iago is doing it is much easier for Iago to lie to Roderigo, because he knows what lies he can get away with."I grant indeed it hath not appeared; and ones suspicion is not without wit and judgement. But, Roderigo, if thou hast that in thee indeed, which I have greater reason to believe now than ever-I mean purpose, courage, and valour-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, 208-215) This is an example of him manipulation Roderigo because he knows he can. He knows for a fact that he can’t do this impossible task for Roderigo, but he doesn’t care because at the same time he knows she will be dead by the end of the night if she is not dead already. Cue to Iago’s control in his main plan at this time, it is much easier for him to manipulate someone who is not a part of what he has been trying to accomplish, because he knows what he can and can’t lie about to Roderigo. So everytime he speaks to Roderigo he appeals to what Roderigo wants to hear, and no matter how many times he fails as long as he is constantly reassured, Roderigo wouldn’t leave Iago due to Iago being his only hope at ever having…

    • 931 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    How Does Iago Show Honesty

    • 1150 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Roderigo, a gulled gentleman, is the main character susceptible to Iago's villianess plot. During a personal conversation, Iago learns of Roderigo's lustful nature toward Desdemona, Othello's wife. Immediately, Iago discovers Roderigo's weakness, love, and employs a plan, manipulating him to do his bidding. As Roderigo's only friend, Iago promises him that he can have Desdemona, even though she is married and joining Othello on a trip to Cyprus. Iago and Roderigo's toxic friendship is shown when Iago uses Roderigo's money for his own self, and in keeping with the friendship, Iago will never run out. To ensure the beginning of his plan, Iago reassures Roderigo that his job is easy. All he has to do is assume a disguise, go to Cyprus and "Put money in thy purse" (1.3.351-352). In…

    • 1150 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Manipulation in Othello

    • 1057 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Roderigo is a Venetian gentleman that is in love with the wife of Othello, Desdemona. He is willing to do whatever it takes to win her over from the Moor, and Iago automatically notices this.…

    • 1057 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    <br>Roderigo's obsession with Desdemona and his feelings of self destruction made him putty in Iago's hands. When Iago started talking to him, Roderigo was literally about to kill…

    • 1082 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Iago is quick to capitalize on Roderigo's emotions and intends to procure a financial windfall. Iago goads Roderigo into believing that he can only win Desdemona's love by giving him money, "Put money in thy purse", so that he can attain gifts for her (Shakespeare 1.3. 339). Iago takes the money for the gifts and keeps it to make a profit. Once Roderigo begins to question Iago's honesty, Iago just thinks of more ways to capitalize on other people's weaknesses and offers the idea that killing Cassio will aid Roderigo's cause, thus Iago is making more money and making it easier to take advantage of his next victim, Cassio. It is clear that Iago's motivations are veered somewhat toward monetary gain, something humans are all too familiar…

    • 765 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Shakespeare also uses figures of speech to help characterize Iago. Iago states, “…led by the nose as asses are” (392-393). He uses this simile to compare Othello to a donkey, saying that he can pull him in any direction he wants. We can clearly see the amount of respect Iago has when he delivers this quote, yet he is the most loyal when he’s face to face with Othello. Shakespeare emphasizes how Iago manipulates other characters and uses them to get money, especially when he says, “Thus do I ever make my fool my purse” (375). In this metaphor, Roderigo is the fool and the purse is his money. This sort of behaviour would be justifiable if he was poor, or in need of money. Instead, even though he still has some status in the military, he chooses to be greedy and take money from others. We can already start make out the sort of character Iago is.…

    • 606 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics