Significance & Dramatic Purpose of Lodovico in Shakespeare's Othello

This essay examines the role and dramatic significance of Lodovico in William Shakespeare's "Othello." Lodovico, a Venetian gentleman and relative of Desdemona, serves as a minor character but a crucial witness to the play's tragic events. He observes key moments, such as Othello's mistreatment of Desdemona and the unfolding of Iago's plan. Lodovico's presence highlights Othello's transformation from a noble figure to a violent one, and he ultimately reveals Iago's deception by presenting evidence from Roderigo. His role underscores the themes of betrayal, jealousy, and the destructive consequences of unchecked suspicion, providing a crucial perspective on Othello's downfall. Desklib provides solved assignments and study material for students.

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

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

The significance and dramatic purposes of Lodovico
paper will discuss on the role and dramatic significance of Lodovico as a character in the
William Shakespeare’s play “Othello”. “Othello” written in 1604 and is considered as
one of the great four tragedies. The role of Lodovico serves many functions in shaping the play
acceptably. Lodovico is one of the minor characters to discuss in Shakespeare's play “Othello”.
Lodovico arrives at the end of the play and is a Venetian gentleman who is somewhat related to
Desdemona’s father Brabantio. That is why he is generally a cousin to Desdemona. Lodovico
does not seem to have a huge role in the entire play but he is considered as a witness towards the
final tragic stages of the play. Lodovico plays
a vital role in act 4 scene 1. The novel first introduces Lodovico as a manager of Cyprus from
Duke of Venice. He has the opportunity to watch all the things happening in the play and
centralize the characters. Lodovico is considered as a witness in the moment when Desdemona
confesses that she has “love for Cassio”. Hearing this, Othello thinks that Desdemona is having
affair with Cassio whereas Desdemona only seems to be anxious about Cassio. Because Othello
has fired him for being drunk and
fighting the night before. Furthermore, Lodovico has also witnessed for Othello’s arrest once it
had been discerned that he has killed Desdemona. Lodovico has no idea about what Lago’s plan
is all about. He thinks that Othello is ashamed for killing his own wife. 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 Judean,
threw a pearly away Richer than all his tribe” (Act 5, Scene 2). This statement is made by
Othello when he has killed his wife as Lago has told him that there is some sort of romance
going on between Desdemona and Cassio. Othello later comes to know that Desdemona was
innocent. When Lodovico enters the play, he observes Desdemona slapped by Othello and he
also spots Othello being rude to her. He is the only character who raises his voice against all the
terrors happening throughout the play. Othello hit Desdemona badly and this raised question in
the mind of Lodovico about Othello’s sanity. Lodovico does not have any
kind of personality in his character, but he often serves as a witness certainly. He serves as the
only witness to the unfolding of the issues of betrayal and jealousy. Lodovico in “Othello” has
been one character who has ended showing up in the worst places of the play. For instance, he
also comes in the scene when Cassio and Roderigo were fighting. Othello finds the letter from
Cassio through 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 V, Scene II. This letter functions as
a major evidence to prove that Cassio was not ashamed. In the Act V Scene II Lodovico says
“You must forsake this room and go with us:/ Your power and your command is taken off”. This
statement shows that Lodovico’s existence within the play has unfolded the curtain from the guilt
committed by Othello.
Othello describes Lodovico why he has killed Desdemona and, he confesses that he was not
doubting Desdemona. Later, he came to know that his wife was innocent and there was nothing
going on between Cassio and Desdemona. Lodovico is a character responsible for Othello’s
change in behaviour. Although Othello has been totally transformed throughout the play. He
changed from a noble man to a violent. In the concluding section, it can be said that Lodovico
has been one of most influential witnesses

in the play who has been able to show Othello that he was guilty. His character in the play has
given new direction to the play. Lodovico is the only person who shows the evidence from
Roderigo’s pocket which proves that Lago is behind the whole plan.
Work cited-
Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice. Ed. Alvin Kernan. New
York: Signet Classics, 1998