Dramatis Personae for Othello

"OTHELLO, the Moor and a General in the service of Venice. ":#notes1

BRABANTIO, a Venetian senator and Desdemona’s father.

CASSIO, Othello’s lieutenant.

"IAGO, Othello's ancient or ensign.":#notes2

"RODORIGO, a gentleman of Venice.":#notes4

DUKE, of Venice.

SENATORS, of Venice.

MONTANO, Governor of Cyprus.

GENTLEMEN, of Cyprus.

LODOVICO, Desdemona’s kinsman or cousin

GRATIANO, Desdemona’s uncle

SAILOR.

CLOWN.

HERALD.

"DESDEMONA, Othello’s wife and Brabantio's daughter.":#notes3

AEMILIA, Iago’s wife.

BIANCA, a courtesan.

Messenger, Officers, Gentlemen, Musicians and Attendants.

OTHELLO

‘Othello’ has been translated as ‘prosperous’ in Greek and ‘bold’ in Spanish. It was an Italian Christian name in circulation in Shakespeare's time, but there is the suggestion that Shakespeare’s choice of the name was taken from the intensely jealous character of Thorello in Ben Jonson’s Every Man in his Humour (1600), who believes that his wife is cheating on him.

If translated from Hebrew, ‘Ot - Ha El – O’ or ‘his sign of God’ alludes to the fact that he has been circumcised according to Muslim tradition. It has also been suggested that the name could be literally interpreted as ‘Ot-HELL -O’, a sinister prediction for the future of Othello’s soul due to his tragic deed.

IAGO

‘Iago’ (the Welsh and Spanish equivalent of James or Jacob) is translated as ‘supplanter’: one who takes the place of another, through force, scheming, or strategy.

The fact that Shakespeare gives Iago the Spanish form of James rather than the Italian form (Giacomo) indicates a significant reason for this choice. Iago the Spaniard would have aroused hostile feelings from an English audience at war with Spain. St James of Compostela or Sanct’ Iago, was not only the patron saint of Spain but known as ‘Matamoros’, Killer of Moors.

DESDEMONA

Desdemona is the only character given a name (‘Disdemona’) from Giraldi Cinthio’s Gli Hecatommithi (1566), Shakespeare’s main source for his play. The name is Greek and means 'unfortunate' or 'ill-fated star'.

The name ‘Des-DEMON-a’, like ‘Ot-HELL-o’, has evil connotations. Othello calls her "fair devil", perhaps to highlight his incorrect view that her beauty (or fairness) hides her evil heart.

RODERIGO

‘Roderigo’, like Iago, is a Spanish name which means ‘ruler of the world’.

The fact that both Iago and Roderigo have Spanish names, suggests that Shakespeare might be playing upon the pathological fear of Catholic Spain in Elizabethan England.

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