With his smooth and polite behavior, Cassio is the complete opposite of strict and direct Othello, but Othello appreciates their differences. He doesn’t have much experience in the war, but he is able to win Othello’s trust. The kind girl agrees to help Cassio make peace after their fight with Othello while knowing that her kindness towards Cassio will ignite Othello’s jealousy.Ĭassio is a loyal lieutenant in Othello’s army. Desdemona is also very humble – she treats all people with respect and doesn’t discriminate based on class. Despite her courage, the young girl is very delicate and tender, and in the hands of Desdemona, Othello finds the softness, kindness, and generosity he couldn’t experience in the army. By eloping with Othello, Desdemona demonstrated courage to stand up to her father and fight for her wishes. She was a sought after bride for many men in Venice, but she fell in love with Othello. Deceived by one of his lieutenants, Othello kills his beloved wife in a jealous outrage.ĭesdemona is the daughter of a Venetian Senator, Brabantio.

His virtues convinced Venetian senators to approve of his marriage with Desdemona, even though she was much younger than him and her father wasn’t too thrilled about it.

Othello is a skilled warrior and a good man. The time of his character predates large-scale slave trades and racism that would become more common later, so calling Othello black in parts of the play shouldn’t confuse the reader. Shakespeare never mentions where Othello was born, but presumably, he has African or Middle Eastern roots. Othello is a Moor, a dark-skinned general who occupies a high post in the Venetian army.

Othello novel by william shakespeare