He can't quite believe how happy he is that she loves him: While Othello appears confident of her love for him in Act 1 deep down he is insecure in the relationship. May trumpet to the world: my heart's subdued My downright violence and storm of fortunes That I did love the Moor to live with him, On the subject of her relationship with Othello, Desdemona says: This also shows that she is not a passive, submissive character in that she decided she wanted him and she pursued him. She fell in love with his stories of valour 'These things to hear would Desdemona seriously incline'. Her father is shocked and dismayed: 'Whether a maid so tender, fair and happy…would ever have…run from her guardage to the sooty bosom / Of such a thing as thou.'Īs Othello explains, it is Desdemona who pursued him. In marrying a 'Moor', Desdemona flies in the face of convention and faces familial and societal criticism for her bold choice. Several strokes of good fortune (the handkerchief etc) help Iago keep Othello on side until the murder of Desdamona but ultimately it is his genius for manipulation and trickery that ensures his success. Iago is annoyed that he didn't receive promotion from general Othello, who instead bestowed the position of lieutenant on Michael Cassio, a relatively inexperienced Florentine: 'I know my price, I am worth no worse a place.' This doesn't completely explain Iago's motivation to completely destroy Othello's life - jealousy of Othello's status and happiness in love are factors also. However, Iago despises Othello and makes it his personal mission to destroy him: 'I follow him to serve my turn upon him.' Othello trusts Iago totally as Iago has a reputation in Venice for being very honest: 'my ancient / A man he is of honest and trust.' He believes Iago to be one of his best friends and believes Iago to be entirely loyal to him. However, the personal relationship between Othello and Iago is much more complex. This means that they have a close military relationship. Iago is Othello's ensign, which is essentially his third in command. 'Keep your friends close but your enemies closer!' Here's a run down of the key relationships in Othello: Othello and Iago, Othello and Desdamona and Iago and Emilia. It can happen that an exam question on the Single Text might ask you to discuss the relationship between two specific characters rather than just focusing on one alone.

Symbols in othello