Othello Group

Question:


johnnyutah
Student

What is Roderigo's function in "Othello" ?

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Posted by johnnyutah on Friday January 26, 2007 at 2:47 PM and tagged with characters, othello, roderigo.

Answers:


  1. ms-mcgregor Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Roderigo functions as a pawn for Iago. As a rejected suitor of Desdemona, he is easily manipulated by Iago in Iago's quest for vengence against Othello. Roderigo believes everything Iago tells him and does everything Iago asks of him. As a result, we feel sorry for Roderigo in the end because he is so easily mislead by Iago and because Iago, in whom Roderigo had placed so much trust, eventually kills Roderigo.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/othello

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    Posted by ms-mcgregor on Monday August 4, 2008 at 9:29 PM

  2. revolution
    revolution Teacher
    Doctorate

    He is a jelous suitor of Desdemina. He is also young, rich and foolish, easily manipulated and deceived by the cunning and destructive Iago in his quest of revenge against Othello. He is so "brainwashed" by him that Roderigo would do anything for him, even against his own conscience just for the hand of his beloved

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    Posted by revolution on Saturday July 25, 2009 at 8:02 PM

  3. dfulton02
    dfulton02 Student
    College - Senior

    Roderigo seems to appear like Iago's inner-self and gives the auidence a look into the perception of self-concept and self-esteem of Iago's demorlizing character. 

    One has to recall that Shakespeare's Othello is an adaptation of Giraldi Cintho's " The Moor of Venice".  Shakespeare divided the Ensign character ( Iago) into Iago and Roderigo.  In Shakespeare's version Iago has no human qualities for the remorse that he causes from his evil actions.  Whereas, Roderigo shows a more human side of Iago.

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    Posted by dfulton02 on Friday December 11, 2009 at 6:16 AM