Roderigo - Othello Acts 4 and 5

While reading Othello, a play by William Shakespeare, one character in particular continued to confuse me. It seemed as though he really had no purpose except to be there, and I was confused why Shakespeare had included him in his work. However, after Acts 4 and 5, it is clear why Roderigo was created. Throughout the majority of the play, Roderigo is a standstill character who does very little to progress the story onward. However, it turns out that he is the first person to see through Iago’s deceit. While it is turned around on him, Rodergio is the first hint the reader gets that people might be catching on to Iago’s actions. Furthermore, while Roderigo is used to kill Cassio, resulting in his own death instead, he helps the others realize and confirm Iago’s madness after even after death. Roderigo had been communicating with Iago for a long time in order to try and help him win over Desdemona, and after his death, letters regarding this agreement were found within Roderigo’s pockets. One discussed how Iago had requested that Roderigo kill Cassio, removing him from the picture. The other letter, however, listed many of the complaints Roderigo had against Iago. Cassio states in regard to the letters, “And even but now he spake, after long seeming dead, Iago hurt him, Iago set him on,” (Shakespeare, 1459). Even though his interactions with Iago got him killed, Roderigo got his revenge on Iago even after death.