Othello- Act 1

"Othello" 

By: William Shakespeare

Beginning in the middle of the action, the reader of "Othello, The Moor of Venice" is immediately introduced to characters. As the story plot unfolds, the true qualities of these characters are revealed by the dialogue and language of the other characters. This form of characterization is crucial both unto the tale of the story itself as well as the understanding of the characters and their motives. 

"I saw Othello's visage in his mind, And to his honors and his valiant parts Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate (I.ii.249-251)." With the unfolding of the tale, both that of the novel and the tale of Desdemona's love, Othello, the protagonist, is characterized as true, brave, and most importantly, honorable. These qualities continue to be emphasized by the Duke and others as Othello handles matters admirably in doing what is proper. The foil of the great Othello is the horrible Iago. Cunning and deceiving,  Iago characterizes himself through his soliloquies which reveal his plot and true demeanor. Desdemona, the wife of Othello, becomes a crucial character as she becomes the subject of conflict within Act I. She serves as the object of several men's desires yet stands independent by her own beliefs. One such suitor of Desdemona is Roderigo.  Iago characterizes Roderigo by revealing his susceptibility to trickery and blinding love. 

Throughout the novel,  the characters are revealed as having very distinct qualities which are emphasized by the language in details others reveal. These distinct qualities keep the characters separate  but all serve as a crucial piece in the puzzle. With different qualities or shapes, they fit together to form the picture.