He speaks home, madam. You may relish him more in the soldier than in the scholar.Question 3 on page 1119 asks about the characters- protagonist, antagonist, foil, minor, etc. Firstly, I would like to point out that Iago is the main character (duh). The odd thing about this is that he is the bad guy, really. He convinces everyone that he is honest- "and for I know thou'rt full of love and honest" (III.iii.119)- but that is all part of his evil plot! Iago is not the typical protagonist, yet the reader still feels a natural inclination to root for him to succeed simply because he is the focus of the story. The antagonists in the story are Cassio and Othello, the two men Iago is trying to hurt. They are technically the good guys; they are truly honest and courteous.
Cassio and Iago are definitely foil characters, especially in their views on women. In Act 2, scene 1, Cassio compliments the women and kisses their hands, a show of respect and common courtesy. On the other hand, Iago complains that his wife nags him too much (lines 100-102), says all women trick men (lines 141-142), and proclaims that a woman's place is in the nursery and kitchen (line 159). Additionally, a great deal of irony comes from their foil-ness. Of the two, Cassio is the truly honest one, yet Iago somehow convinces Othello that Cassio cannot be trusted. And it's really Iago who he shouldn't trust!
As for the minor characters, they each serve a purpose all their own. I think the clown is supposed to add a bit of comedy in at times when the plot is getting very intense; I've seen this technique in other Shakespearean dramas of a more serious nature. Obviously, Desdemona is crucial to the plot, but Emilia is also important to the development of the story. Without her, Iago would never get the handkerchief to plant in Cassio's room.
Until Next Time,
Alysse
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