As soon as Iago tosses him a tiny crumb of respect, Roderigo is ready to swallow every lie that Iago feeds him, and Iago persuades him that he will get to sleep with Desdemona the very next night if he murders Cassio. However, Roderigo's threat doesn't faze Iago.

If this were to happen, Desdemona (who of course has never received any jewels) would learn that honest Iago is not to be trusted. If she won't, Roderigo threatens Iago, 'assure yourself I will seek satisfaction of you' (4.2.200). Roderigo says that he will go to Desdemona personally and promise to quit bothering her if she will return his jewels.

Roderigo also makes a threat that could make all of Iago's schemes blow up in his face. Roderigo is unhappy that Iago has not given him a chance to spend any time with Desdemona, has not even given him any realistic hope that he'll ever see her, and he declares that he won't put up with it anymore. He complains, 'Every day thou daffest me with some device, Iago' (4.2.175). Some time after Iago has used him as a tool to get Cassio dismissed, Roderigo appears and tells Iago that 'I do not find that thou dealest justly with me' (4.2.173). Nevertheless, Iago persuades him that everything will work out if he just has patience. In the remainder of the scene Iago's plan plays out much to his satisfaction, but afterwards Roderigo complains that 'My money is almost spent I have been to-night exceedingly well cudgelled and I think the issue will be, I shall have so much experience for my pains, and . . . no money at all and a little more wit' (2.3.364-368). Roderigo will provoke Cassio into doing something rash, and Cassio will lose his job. Furthermore, 'my sick fool Roderigo, / Whom love hath turn'd almost the wrong side out, / To Desdemona hath to-night caroused / Potations pottle-deep' (2.3.51-54), so he's drunk, too. He's sure that when Cassio is drunk he'll get quarrelsome. Having persuaded Cassio to meet some gentlemen who want to have a few drinks, Iago reviews his plans. At first Roderigo is incredulous at the idea that Desdemona could be in love with Cassio, but Iago keeps on talking, and Roderigo agrees to his plan. Roderigo does listen to Iago, who tells him that Desdemona is in love with Cassio, so Roderigo needs to be valiant and do something that will anger Cassio and make him lose his job. If thou be'st valiant,- as, they say, base men being in love have then a nobility in their natures more than is native to them-list me' (2.1.214-216). When everyone else has left the scene, Iago calls to Roderigo, saying 'Come hither. Lurking on the fringes of the crowd, he witnesses the joyous reunion of Othello and Desdemona. Roderigo, in disguise, travels to Cyprus on the same ship with Desdemona and Iago. Iago easily talks him out of that plan, and talks him into the belief that he can get Desdemona into bed if only he will disguise himself and come to Cyprus with plenty of money in his purse. When he's gotten Iago's attention, Roderigo declares that he will drown himself out of despair that Desdemona loves someone else. He says nothing until he is alone with Iago and then asks, 'What will I do, thinkest thou?' (1.3.303). Roderigo accompanies Brabantio to the Senate and is present as Othello and Desdemona refute Brabantio's charges. A moment later, in order to provoke a brawl, Iago pretends he's about to attack Roderigo, saying, 'You, Roderigo! come, sir, I am for you' (1.2.58). Roderigo's only words in the scene, are 'Signior, it is the Moor' (1.2.57). Roderigo is with Brabantio when Brabantio finds Othello at the inn where Othello and Desdemona are staying. When Brabantio appears, we learn why Roderigo needed the services of a third party Brabantio angrily tells him, 'I have charged thee not to haunt about my doors: / In honest plainness thou hast heard me say / My daughter is not for thee' (1.1.96-98). Iago persuades him that the elopement was a surprise, and then talks him into creating problems for Othello by shouting out the news of the elopement at the window of Brabantio, Desdemona's father. (From what we know of Iago's character, it seems unlikely that Iago did anything for Roderigo except take his money and make promises.) Of course Roderigo is mightily disappointed to hear that Desdemona has married someone else, and he thinks that Iago should have said or done something about it. Roderigo is in love with Desdemona and has been giving Iago money to act as his go-between. The 'this' is the elopement of Othello and Desdemona. As the play opens, Roderigo is pouting, and exclaims, 'Tush! never tell me I take it much unkindly / That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse / As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this' (1.1.1-3).

Characters in othello