Roderigo

Family: Venice · Role: suitor · First appears: Othello · Act I, Scene I

Roderigo, a Venetian suitor, has given Iago access to his purse while pursuing Desdemona, though Brabantio has forbidden him from coming to his doors and marrying his daughter. In Act I, Scene I, he joins Brabantio’s search for Othello and Desdemona; in Scene III, he abandons his plan to kill himself and decides, “I am changed. I’ll sell all my land.” He accepts Iago as a friend, follows his assurances that Desdemona will leave Othello, and joins Iago in seeking revenge against Othello.

At Cyprus, Roderigo travels with Desdemona, Iago, and Emilia, then agrees to provoke Cassio as Iago directs. Cassio strikes him during the drunken brawl with Montano. Later, Roderigo confronts Iago after discovering that the jewels he supplied for Desdemona have not brought the promised response; Iago then directs him to ambush Othello’s replacement and kill him to prevent Othello and Desdemona from leaving.

In Act V, Scene I, Roderigo attacks Cassio, who wounds him. As he lies injured, Iago stabs and kills him, and then tells Emilia that Roderigo and escaped attackers were responsible for Cassio’s wounding.