Othello
Othello is "the Moor" and is an older hero of the Venetian Republic, a sovereign state of north-eastern Italy. He makes the bold move to elope with his younger lover, Desdemona, who is the daughter of an esteemed and powerful Venetian senator. He is sent to Cyprus to defend the island against the invading Turks but the invasion is scuppered by tempestuous weather, leaving Othello to leave the Cypriots in celebration instead of battle. He becomes the victim of a Machiavellian scheme concocted by Iago, his ensign, who convinces Othello that his wife is having an affair with his trusted friend and lieutenant Cassio. Othello becomes convinced of this and is driven almost out of his mind with both anger and jealousy. He kills Desdemona but after learning that he has been duped, and that the affair never happened, he is overwhelmed and kills himself.
Desdemona
Desdemona is a passionate young Venetian woman, the daughter of a Venetian senator whom she disappoints and angers by eloping with Othello, an older man, and a Moor. Desdemona is as fierce as she is beautiful and when Othello is deployed to Cyprus she accompanies him. Despite being a faithful wife she is killed for a perceived infidelity when Iago convinces Othello that she is having an affair with Cassio, his lieutenant.
Iago
Iago is the villain of the film. His life is intertwined with Othello's; he is Othello's ensign and his wife, Emilia, is Desdemona's attendant. Iago is jealous of Othello and wants the same life of success and prosperity for himself without actually earning it. He comes up with a scheme to destroy Othello by convincing him that Desdemona is having an affair, and is pregnant by, Cassio, his trusted lieutenant. Iago is also jealous of Cassio and so intends to kill two birds with one Machiavellian stone with his plan. When Othello discovers what he has done, Iago is stabbed, but survives, and is taken away to be tortured, before his is put to death.
Cassio
Cassio is a young whippersnapper who is loyal to Othello and whose loyalty and courage are rewarded by the position of Lieutenant. He is handsome and suave, and because of this earns the envy of Iago, who considers that setting him up as the person having an affair with Desdemona the best way to get rid of him. Cassio is proven to be innocent of this dalliance.
Emilia
Emilia is a young woman who is Desdemona's attendant or companion. She travels to Cyprus with her mistress. Emilia is married to the envious Iago and is aware of his scheme. Although a minor character in the movie she is also arguably the most pivotal because it is she who reveals to Othello Iago's deception, and tells him that Desdemona and Cassio have never been intimate at all. This news triggers both the arrest and execution of her husband and the suicide of Othello.
