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{{Short description|Character in Othello}} |
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{{Infobox character |
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| name = Roderigo |
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| style="font-size: larger; color: white" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Roderigo''' |
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| series = [[Othello]] |
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| image = Othello - Iago and Roderigo by H. C. Selous.jpg |
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| align="center" colspan="2" | [[Image:Roderigo03.JPG|thumb|center|250px|Robert Coote as Roderigo in the Turkish bath scene from Orson Welles' 1952 film, ''Othello'']] |
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| caption = Wood engraving of Roderigo (right) speaking with Iago (left) in Act 1, Scene 3, by [[Henry Courtney Selous]] |
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| align="right" | '''Creator''' |
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| alias = |
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| align="right" | '''Play''' |
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| affiliation = |
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| family = |
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| align="right" | '''Date''' |
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| c.1601-1604 |
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| align="right" | '''Source''' |
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| Shakespeare's invention |
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| align="right" | '''Role in play''' |
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| Desdemona's degenerate admirer • Iago's dupe and murder victim |
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| align="right" | '''Quote''' |
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| Tush, never tell me! |
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| align="right" | '''Film Interpreters''' |
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'''Roderigo''' is a character in [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]]'s ''[[Othello]]'' |
'''Roderigo''' is a fictional character in [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]]'s 1604 play ''[[Othello]]''. Roderigo, a wealthy [[Venice|Venetian]], is manipulated into funding the [[antagonist]] [[Iago]]'s plot against [[Othello (character)|Othello]] in the hopeless belief that Iago will aid him in courting Othello's wife [[Desdemona (Othello)|Desdemona]]. In the later acts, Iago recruits Roderigo to assassinate Othello's former lieutenant [[Michael Cassio]], though he is killed by Iago when he fails in his attempt to do so. |
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Despite Shakespeare heavily basing ''Othello'' on [[Cinthio]]'s Italian language tale ''Un Capitano Moro'', Roderigo has no counterpart in the original text, unlike other characters, suggesting that Shakespeare created the character himself.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/edit/10.4324/9780203055656/othello-philip-kolin |chapter-url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780203055656-5/words-performances-john-ford |chapter=“Words and Performances”: Roderigo and the Mixed Dramaturgy of Race and Gender in Othello |title=Othello: New Critical Essays |last=Ford |first=John R. |year=2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781136017902 |editor-last=Kolin |editor-first=Philip |doi=10.4324/9780203055656 |p=150 |quote=He's not even mentioned in Cinthio, Shakespeare's source. And while Shakespeare clearly felt a need to create this character, neither critics nor directors have much shared that urgency.}}</ref> |
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Shakespeare's source for ''Othello'' was the tale, "Un Capitano Moro" by [[Cinthio|Cinthio]], and, while Shakespeare closely followed his source in composing ''Othello'', Roderigo has no counterpart in Cinthio. The character is completely Shakespeare's invention. |
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==Sources== |
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While Shakespeare based ''Othello'' on a number of sources, the play was primarily based on the 1565 tale ''The Story of a Moorish Captain'' in Italian by [[Cinthio]].<ref name="4trag">Shakespeare, William. ''Four Tragedies: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth''. Bantam Books, 1988.</ref> |
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==Role in ''Othello''== |
==Role in ''Othello''== |
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Roderigo is introduced in the play's opening in Act One, Scene One, where, alongside [[Iago]], he alerts [[Desdemona (Othello)|Desdemona]]'s father [[Brabantio]] that his daughter is eloping with [[Othello (character)|Othello]], a fact that Iago knows will cause him great annoyance. After breaking off from Iago, who hid in the earlier scene from Brabantio's sight, he joins Brabantio and his men in their journey to Sagittary in Act One, Scene Two, in hopes of finding Othello and Desdemona. |
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Roderigo makes his first appearance in 1.1 when, as Iago's confederate, he rouses [[Brabantio]] with the news that Desdemona has eloped with [[Othello]]. In 1.2, he accompanies Brabantio to the Sagittary where the newlyweds are found. He is present in 1.3 when the couple defend their union before the Duke. In 2.1, Roderigo disembarks in Cyprus, and, in 2.3, provokes the brawl that results in Cassio's disgrace. Roderigo next appears in 4.2 where Iago lures him into a plot to murder Cassio. In 5.1, Roderigo fails to kill Cassio, and is himself wounded in the attempt. Iago discovers the luckless Roderigo and renders the [[coup de grâce]]. |
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In Act Two, Roderigo joins Iago in his journey to [[Cyprus]], where the Venetians are expecting a Turk invasion, in hopes of being able to woo Desdemona. When the Turks drown in the ocean, Iago convinces Roderigo to invoke a brawl with Cassio, whom Iago has convinced to get drunk, leading to Cassio wounding the Cypriot governor Montano. Othello demotes Cassio as punishment, but Desdemona remains in love with Othello, which sends Roderigo into a suicidal despair. Iago manages to convince him to stick with their plan by promising that, if Roderigo "puts money in his purse", they will be able to destroy Othello, giving him the perfect chance to win Desdemona over. A heartened Roderigo promises to sell all of his lands. |
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Unable to gain access to Desdemona's bed, Roderigo is marked by a sulking ill humor throughout the play, even suggesting suicide as a remedy for his frustrations (1.3.308). He considers surrendering his quest and returning to Venice (2.3.357-362), but Iago keeps his hopes afloat with assurances of future satisfaction (2.1.277-281), (2.3.364-371). Roderigo has opened his purse to Iago (1.1.1-3), believing the villain is using its contents to pave the way to Desdemona (4.2.194-198). Roderigo is sometimes a sounding board for Iago's schemes (2.1.267-277) and a cloak for his villainy (2.1.148-151), being left to do the 'dirty work' when Iago would rather not be seen in the vicinity. |
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He does not appear again until Act Four, Scene Two where he is enrolled in Iago's plot to murder Cassio, a desire he has had since the start of the play. In Act Five, Scene One, Roderigo is wounded in his botched assassination attempt of Cassio: he becomes the first to realise Iago's true plans. He is then fatally stabbed by Iago, cursing him before his departure.<ref name="4trag" /> |
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==Analysis== |
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Roderigo is the substance of the minimal subplot of ''Othello.'' As the representative of the degenerate sexuality of Venice (which was taken for granted by Shakespeare's audience), Roderigo's over-mastering, self-destructive desire for Desdemona reflects Othello's own. Roderigo is the spur which motivates 'poisonous impusles' in Iago, whose gulling of the weak and degenerate Venetian prepares the ensign for the more challenging manipulation of Othello.<ref name="Honingmann">Honingmann, E. A. J.. ''Othello.'' The Arden Shakespeare, 2002.</ref> |
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==Performances== |
==Performances== |
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Modern renditions of the play generally portray Roderigo as a naive fool lusting for love, who falls victims to Iago's cunning eloquence<ref name="Honingmann">Honingmann, E. A. J.. ''Othello.'' The Arden Shakespeare, 2002.</ref> |
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Based on the fact that ''Othello'' was composed in near proximity chronologically to the composition of ''[[Twelfth Night]],'' modern interpreters of Roderigo sometimes play the role as a foolish fop in the manner of [[Andrew Aguecheek]] with the rationale being both roles would have been played by an actor in Shakespeare's company specializing in foppish characters.<ref name="Honingmann" /> |
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[[Robert Coote]] played Roderigo in [[Othello (1952 film)| |
[[Robert Coote]] played Roderigo in [[Orson Welles]]'s [[Othello (1952 film)|1952 film]]. Other actors playing his role include [[Ferdinand von Alten]] in the 1922 silent version starring [[Emil Jannings]], [[Robert Lang (actor)|Robert Lang]] in the [[Othello (1965 British film)|1965 version]] starring [[Laurence Olivier]], and [[Michael Maloney]] in the [[Othello (1995 film)|film version]] with [[Laurence Fishburne]]. |
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In 2006, ''[[Omkara (2006 film)|Omkara]]'', the [[Bollywood]] version of ''Othello'', Roderigo née Rajan ’Rajju’ Tiwari was played by [[Deepak Dobriyal]]. |
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Other film interpreters of the role include [[Ferdinand von Alten]] in the 1922 silent version starring [[Emil Jannings]], [[Robert Lang (actor)|Robert Lang]] in the [[Othello (1965 film)|1965 Laurence Olivier vehicle]], and [[Michael Maloney]] in the [[Othello (1995 film)|film version]] with [[Laurence Fishburne]] in the titular role. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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<references/> |
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==Further reading== |
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* MacLiammóir, Micheál. ''Put Money in Thy Purse: the Diary of the Film of Othello''. Methuen & Co., Ltd., London (1952); Virgin Books (1994), ISBN |
* MacLiammóir, Micheál. ''Put Money in Thy Purse: the Diary of the Film of Othello''. Methuen & Co., Ltd., London (1952); Virgin Books (1994), {{ISBN|0-86369-729-1}}. MacLiammóir's 1952 memoir about the filming of Orson Welles' ''Othello''. |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/views/plays/characters/charlines.php?CharID=roderigo&WorkID=othello&cues=0&longlines=1 Open Source Shakespeare: All Lines and Cues for Roderigo in "Othello"] |
*[http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/views/plays/characters/charlines.php?CharID=roderigo&WorkID=othello&cues=0&longlines=1 Open Source Shakespeare: All Lines and Cues for Roderigo in "Othello"] |
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{{Othello}} |
{{Othello}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Literary characters introduced in 1603]] |
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[[Category:Italian |
[[Category:Fictional Italian people in literature]] |
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[[Category:Male Shakespearean characters]] |
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[[Category:Shakespeare villains]] |
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Latest revision as of 08:31, 28 November 2024
| Roderigo | |
|---|---|
| Othello character | |
 Wood engraving of Roderigo (right) speaking with Iago (left) in Act 1, Scene 3, by Henry Courtney Selous | |
| Created by | William Shakespeare |
| Portrayed by | Ferdinand von Alten (1922) Robert Coote, (1952) Robert Lang (1965) Michael Maloney (1995) Deepak Dobriyal (2006) |
Roderigo is a fictional character in Shakespeare's 1604 play Othello. Roderigo, a wealthy Venetian, is manipulated into funding the antagonist Iago's plot against Othello in the hopeless belief that Iago will aid him in courting Othello's wife Desdemona. In the later acts, Iago recruits Roderigo to assassinate Othello's former lieutenant Michael Cassio, though he is killed by Iago when he fails in his attempt to do so.
Despite Shakespeare heavily basing Othello on Cinthio's Italian language tale Un Capitano Moro, Roderigo has no counterpart in the original text, unlike other characters, suggesting that Shakespeare created the character himself.[1]
Sources
[edit]While Shakespeare based Othello on a number of sources, the play was primarily based on the 1565 tale The Story of a Moorish Captain in Italian by Cinthio.[2]
Role in Othello
[edit]Roderigo is introduced in the play's opening in Act One, Scene One, where, alongside Iago, he alerts Desdemona's father Brabantio that his daughter is eloping with Othello, a fact that Iago knows will cause him great annoyance. After breaking off from Iago, who hid in the earlier scene from Brabantio's sight, he joins Brabantio and his men in their journey to Sagittary in Act One, Scene Two, in hopes of finding Othello and Desdemona.
In Act Two, Roderigo joins Iago in his journey to Cyprus, where the Venetians are expecting a Turk invasion, in hopes of being able to woo Desdemona. When the Turks drown in the ocean, Iago convinces Roderigo to invoke a brawl with Cassio, whom Iago has convinced to get drunk, leading to Cassio wounding the Cypriot governor Montano. Othello demotes Cassio as punishment, but Desdemona remains in love with Othello, which sends Roderigo into a suicidal despair. Iago manages to convince him to stick with their plan by promising that, if Roderigo "puts money in his purse", they will be able to destroy Othello, giving him the perfect chance to win Desdemona over. A heartened Roderigo promises to sell all of his lands.
He does not appear again until Act Four, Scene Two where he is enrolled in Iago's plot to murder Cassio, a desire he has had since the start of the play. In Act Five, Scene One, Roderigo is wounded in his botched assassination attempt of Cassio: he becomes the first to realise Iago's true plans. He is then fatally stabbed by Iago, cursing him before his departure.[2]
Performances
[edit]Modern renditions of the play generally portray Roderigo as a naive fool lusting for love, who falls victims to Iago's cunning eloquence[3]
Robert Coote played Roderigo in Orson Welles's 1952 film. Other actors playing his role include Ferdinand von Alten in the 1922 silent version starring Emil Jannings, Robert Lang in the 1965 version starring Laurence Olivier, and Michael Maloney in the film version with Laurence Fishburne.
In 2006, Omkara, the Bollywood version of Othello, Roderigo née Rajan ’Rajju’ Tiwari was played by Deepak Dobriyal.
References
[edit]- ^ Ford, John R. (2013). ""Words and Performances": Roderigo and the Mixed Dramaturgy of Race and Gender in Othello". In Kolin, Philip (ed.). Othello: New Critical Essays. Routledge. p. 150. doi:10.4324/9780203055656. ISBN 9781136017902.
He's not even mentioned in Cinthio, Shakespeare's source. And while Shakespeare clearly felt a need to create this character, neither critics nor directors have much shared that urgency.
- ^ a b Shakespeare, William. Four Tragedies: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth. Bantam Books, 1988.
- ^ Honingmann, E. A. J.. Othello. The Arden Shakespeare, 2002.
Further reading
[edit]- MacLiammóir, Micheál. Put Money in Thy Purse: the Diary of the Film of Othello. Methuen & Co., Ltd., London (1952); Virgin Books (1994), ISBN 0-86369-729-1. MacLiammóir's 1952 memoir about the filming of Orson Welles' Othello.