The Significance and Dramatic Purposes of Lodovico

This paper examines the role and dramatic importance of Lodovico in William Shakespeare’s drama “Othello”. It analyzes Lodovico's actions and influence on the tragedy, as well as his role as a witness in the final tragic stages of the play.

English 1011-OL
Randhawa
Assignment #2
13 Feb 2019
Supreet Kaur Randhawa
Student Id: T00631077
English 1011-OL
Assignment #2
13, Feb 2019

English 1011-OL
Randhawa
Assignment #2
13 Feb 2019
The significance and dramatic purposes of Lodovico
This paper will examine the role and dramatic importance of Lodovico in William
Shakespeare’s drama “Othello”. It is written in 1604 and was established as a great tragedy of
Shakespeare. In the current era, Lodovico serves many functions in influencing the tragedy
reasonably. In Shakespeare's drama “Othello”, Lodovico is one of the minor characters for
discussion. Lodovico was a Venetian gentleman who appears in the climax of the drama. He was
somewhat attached to Brabantio, Desdemona’s father. That’s why he was a common cousin to
Desdemona. Lodovico does not play a huge role in the entire play, but he has always been
considered as a witness towards the final tragic stages of the drama.
Discussion
The initial stage of the drama introduces Lodovico as a manager of Cyprus from the
Duke of Venice. He got the chance to watch all the actions in the show as well as centralise the
people. Lodovico plays a vital role in act four scene one. He is considered as a witness at the
moment when Desdemona admits that she has “love for Cassio”. Hearing this, Othello thinks
that Desdemona is involved in some romance with Cassio whereas Desdemona only seems to be
worried about Cassio. For the reason that Othello has fired him for being drunk, also fighting the
night before.
Furthermore, Lodovico has also witnessed for Othello’s arrest once it remained to discern
that he has murdered Desdemona. Lodovico does not know what Lago's plan is all about. He
thinks that Othello is ashamed for the murder of his wife. Lodovico is one of the characters who
has ended showing up in the awful situations of the drama. For instance, he is noticed in the
scene where Cassio and Roderigo were fighting. Othello finds the letter from Cassio through

English 1011-OL
Randhawa
Assignment #2
13 Feb 2019
Lodovico as he says “Sir, you shall understand what hath befall’n, Which, as I think you know
not, here is a letter” in act five, scene second. This letter functions as a major sign to prove that
Cassio was not ashamed. In Act V Scene II, Lodovico says “You must forsake this room and go
with us. Your power and your command are taken off". This statement shows that Lodovico’s
existence within the play has unfolded the curtain from the guilt committed by Othello.
Othello said to Lodovico when Lodovico comes to arrest Othello, “Then must you speak
of one that loved not wisely, but too well; Of one not easily jealous, but, being wrought,
perplexed in the extreme; of one whose hand, like the base Indian, threw a pearl away Richer
than all his tribe" (Act 5, Scene 2). This statement is made by Othello when he has slain his wife
as Lago has told him that there is some romance going on between Desdemona and Cassio.
Othello later comes to know that Desdemona wasn't romantically involved with Cassio. Othello
describes Lodovico why he murdered Desdemona and, he confesses that he wasn’t doubting
Desdemona. Later, he came to understand that his wife was innocent and nothing was going on
between Cassio and Desdemona.
Moreover, Lodovico is responsible for Othello's change in behaviour. Othello has
changed throughout the drama. He turned from a nobleman to a violent.
Conclusion
In the concluding section, it can be said that Lodovico has been one of the most
influential witnesses in the play who has shown Othello that he was guilty. The role of Lodovico
in this drama has provided a new direction to the drama. Lodovico is the only person who shows
the evidence from Roderigo’s pocket which proves that Lago is behind the whole plan. Lodovico
wants Othello to arrive back to Venice and thinks he should be punished for murdering his wife.

English 1011-OL
Randhawa
Assignment #2
13 Feb 2019
He similarly declares Cassio to take the place of Othello. Othello wanted to say many things
before he leaves for Venice then he couldn’t. Othello kills himself and however becomes the
conqueror of the entire play. Lastly, Lodovico inquires Lago to get back into his work whereas
Lago maintains his promise and does not say a word. Lodovico chooses to go back to Venice and
inform everyone about an unfortunate story.

English 1011-OL
Randhawa
Assignment #2
13 Feb 2019
References and Bibliography
Erickson, Peter. "Concluding Othello: Contrasting Endings by Shakespeare and Fred
Wilson." Shakespeare Bulletin 34.2 (2016): 277-293.
Jay, Corey M. "The Unraveling of Shakespeare's Othello." (2012).
Orlin, Lena Cowen, ed. Othello: the state of play.
Bloomsbury Publishing, 2014.Pechter, Edward. Othello and interpretive traditions. University of
Iowa Press, 2012