Curriculum –Vitae

Shrikant Shukla
121-C LIG Flats Pkt-A-3 Mayur Vihar Phase -3 New
Delhi-96
Mobile: 9999507703 E-mail:
Shrikant.shukla22@yahoo.com
Objective
My goal is to be associated with a professional organization
where I can both utilize my experience and continue to expand
my knowledge and ability in all aspects.
Experience
 Worked in OASIS Management Institute for one year as a
Training Manager in Marketing Division.
 Working in NBO building Nirman Bhawan Ministry of Rural
Development as a Computer Operator in finance
department New Delhi.

Computer Skill
➢ (MS.Office), MS Word, MSEXel, MSPower Point Training in
2004 from S.Tech Computers, Sultanpur (U.P.)
➢ Good knowledge of Internet.
Educational Qualification
• Passed high School from ICN Sultanpur (U.P)
• Passed Intermediate from GIC Sultanpur (U.P)
 • Passed B.A. from Avadh University Faizabad (U.P)
• Passed M.A. (English) from Avadh University Faizabad (U.P)
Personal Details
Father’s Name: Shri Ram Chandra Shukla
Language Known: English Hindi,
Marital Status: Married
Date of Birth: 01/01/1981
Hobby: Listening radio, songs & stories.
Nationality: Indian
Religion: Hindu

Date: (Shrikant
Shukla)
Place:
If I were Prime Minister...
Four McGill students among top ten finalists in Magna
contest
Mark Reynolds | If you were Prime Minister, what would you do? Cut taxes? Beef up the
military? Send Paul Martin on a five-year "fact-finding" mission to Ellesmere?
Megalomaniacal daydreaming aside, being PM is a tough job, but four McGill students have
a bit of a handle on how they'd start. Noah Billick, Nicholas Gafuik, Reynolds Mastin and
Amitabh Saxena are among the ten finalists in the ninth "If I Were Prime Minister" essay
contest sponsored by auto-parts manufacturer Magna Inc.
George Marsland, executive director of the Magna for Canada scholarship program, said he
does not recall such a large contingent of finalists coming from one university before. It's an
impressive feat: there were 500 entries this year, and these were narrowed down to 50 semi-
finalists and then to the final 10.
Marsland explained that the goal of the contest is to create a community of young people who
are engaged in public policy.
"We believe it's important to give back to the society and the country that we operate in. We
believe that young people are the most important agents of change, and it's important in a
healthy society for political institutions to have the input of young people," he said.
They put their money where their mouth is. Each of the 50 semi-finalists received $500 and
other prizes worth $2,500. The 10 finalists receive a further $10,000, plus a four-month
internship at Magna or at an NGO, as well as having their essay published in the contest's
annual anthology. The winner gets a further $10,000 ($20,500 total), plus a year-long
internship.
It's no walk in the park. Contestants submit a 2,500-word essay on "If you were Prime
Minister of Canada what political vision would you offer to improve our living standards and
ensure a secure and prosperous global community?" They then have to present and defend
their ideas to a panel of judges that include Jean Charpentier (former press secretary to
Trudeau), Major-General Richard Rohmer and journalists Mike Duffy, Joan Crockatt and
Michael Harris. The winner will be announced at a gala in Ottawa in November.
The four McGill finalists drew on their own backgrounds and experiences. Noah Billick is a
MBA/law student who, before returning to school after his undergrad, had been both a
stockbroker and high-school teacher. He focused on the global security aspect of the question.
"When you look at the objective measures [like the UN Human Development Index], Canada
always ranks very high," he said, adding that our country already has a very successful
democratic tradition with good standards of living and accountable institutions. Billick
believes that other nations can benefit from Canada's expertise. Already countries like South
Africa have looked to Canada's constitution to rebuild their own institutions post-Apartheid.
Billick proposed formalizing this process by creating a knowledge bank of both procedures
and experts that would be available to countries that requested them. Through this, Canada
would gain international influence and respect. Ideally, countries that used our model would
become more stable and economically competitive.
"A safer and more prosperous world benefits all of us," he said.
Fellow law student (and also a former teacher) Reynolds Mastin chose to focus on an issue a
little closer to home in his essay. Growing up in Northern Ontario, Mastin was appalled at the
poverty in which Canada's native people live on the nation's reserves. He listed a number of
ideas to rectify what he considers to be one of Canada's greatest failings.
His ideas are somewhat controversial. One would be to sell reserve lands to occupants for $1.
This would allow individuals to get bank credit — although it could also transform the
reserve system beyond recognition. Another idea was to set up a National Aboriginal School
of the Arts in Saskatoon.
His most controversial idea was to set up a social assistance program for off-reserve natives.
Access to the program would require drug and alcohol counselling, unless the individual
wished to participate in an approved testing program to receive an exemption, or obtained a
note from a doctor or addictions counsellor. It's an idea that has drawn a lot of fire.
"That part of the policy seemed to overshadow everything else," he said ruefully.
"I wanted to put it in to provoke debate more than anything else. I think [the judges]
respected that I put it in and argued for it."
Mastin said that in the end, he realizes such a policy does have serious flaws, but not
discussing what are real problems will not do any good either. "I think the moral worth of the
country is at stake."
Nicholas Gafuik looked more to Canada's international image in his essay. The MA student in
history said that Canada has slipped greatly from our golden age of diplomacy in the 1950s.
Regaining that place in the world would be his priority were he to occupy 24 Sussex.
More money for the military would be an important first step.
"I think for Canada to be strong at home, we have to be strong abroad," he said.
Our international achievements have historically been a source of pride for Canadians from
coast to coast. To continue that effectiveness, we need to be able to adapt to the new realities
of globalization, terrorism and an activist American government. Of his many
recommendations, Gafuik suggested that Canada take the lead in reforming the United
Nations' structure. Gafuik did his presentation from Cambodia, where he was working with
The Future Group, an NGO he helped found.
Amitabh Saxena's entry was also coloured by international experience: he wrote his essay
while travelling through Africa, working with an organization that provides computer literacy
training to impoverished Kenyans.
Saxena advocates more international linkages for Canadian students through exchange
programs and internships with Canadian companies abroad. His other priorities include
lowering our trade dependency on the U.S., eliminating subsidies for Canadian farmers so
poorer countries can compete more fairly on the international market, and dropping tariffs
and providing international credit.
"Canada can be a catalyst just by encouraging trade and dropping these tariffs, because right
now we're not even giving them a chance," he said.
None of the McGill finalists have decided what sort of internship they will look for with
Magna or an NGO, but much of the money they've already won has been spoken for. Mastin
and Gafuik are both paying off student debt. Saxena — an engineering graduate — is talking
with his former faculty about establishing a leadership scholarship for deserving students.
Billick, on the other hand, was able to put his to immediate use. "The money is nice because I
just got married this summer. It was welcome."
For more information, please see www.asprimeminister.com
Next: Trigger: Understanding early civilizations

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The Section Officer
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Department of Land Resources,
G- Wing, NBO Building,
Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi.

Subject:- Request for Leave.

Sir,
With due respect I wish to inform you that due to
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Dated: 05.03.2008
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Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Characters

1
Hamlet Characters guide studies each character's role and motivation in
this play.
Hamlet: Son of the late King Hamlet of Denmark and nephew to the present
King. Famous for the graveyard scene where holding the skull of deceased
jester Yorick, Hamlet realizes man has little lasting control over his fate and also
for describing man as the "paragon of animals!" Educated in Wittenburg and
introduced to us in Act I, Scene II, Hamlet resents his mother Queen Gertrude
marrying King Claudius within two months of his father King Hamlet's death to
which she was previously married.
Distrustful of King Claudius, Hamlet is equally weary of the King's spies,
Guildenstern and Rosencrantz who attempt to know his true intentions. When
Hamlet meets King Hamlet's Ghost and learns that King Claudius murdered his
father, Hamlet changes from a distrustful, disillusioned young man to one
driven to avenge his father's death. To this end, Hamlet distrusts and rejects all
those around him whom he believes are spying on him for King Claudius.
Fearing that his intentions could be revealed, Hamlet invents a madness to
distract and hide his true intentions from King Claudius' many spies. This
includes Ophelia, the women he loves whom he bitterly rejects when he learns
she has betrayed him.
Cunning and inventive, Hamlet changes the lines of a play performed before
King Claudius to divine whether King Hamlet's Ghost told him the truth about
his father's death. At the end of the play, Hamlet kills both Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern (indirectly), Laertes and finally King Claudius before dying
himself from a wound inflicted by Laertes.
Horatio: Friend to Hamlet and the one person Hamlet truly trusts. Witnesses
King Hamlet's Ghost in Act I. At the end of the play, Horatio wishes to commit
suicide to join Hamlet in death but Hamlet convinces him to live so he can tell
his story, restoring Hamlet's name.
Claudius: The present King of Denmark, King Claudius took Queen Gertrude
whom he loves as his queen and wife, much to the consternation of Hamlet who
believes his mother has betrayed him and his father's memory by doing so.
Cautious and suspicious, Claudius has courtiers Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
and Hamlet's love interest Ophelia spying on Hamlet for him since as he says,
the great ones must be watched. Distrustful of Hamlet and his "madness", King
Claudius has Hamlet deported to England to be killed when he fears he has
become a threat.
Instead, Hamlet returns to Denmark, and King Claudius manipulates Laertes
into killing Hamlet for him. Unfortunately, King Claudius' plan to poison
Hamlet backfires, killing his beloved Queen Gertrude instead. In Act III, Scene
III, King Claudius reveals his inner guilt and the knowledge that he cannot
avoid God's judgment of him... Dies at the end of the play to the poison tipped
sword of Hamlet.
Gertrude: Queen of Denmark and mother to Hamlet, Queen Gertrude is
resented deeply by Hamlet for marrying King Claudius within two months of
his father, King Hamlet's death. Hamlet makes this bitterly clear throughout the
play especially in his first soliloquy in Act I, Scene II. Queen Gertrude loves her
son but when she sees a play mocking her actions, she famously says of the
female character who vows never to forget her husband, "The lady doth [does]
protest too much, methinks [I think]", (Act III, Scene II, Line 242) in an attempt
to justify her own actions in remarrying so quickly. Clearly loving of Hamlet,
she realizes her wrong when Hamlet scolds her mercilessly in Act III, Scene V.
She agrees to no longer share King Claudius' bed, and aids her son by hiding
Hamlet's true mental state from King Claudius. Dies in Act V, Scene II, to a
poisoned cup of wine meant for Hamlet.
Polonius: Lord Chamberlain. The father of Laertes and Ophelia, Lord
Chamberlain Polonius dutifully serves King Claudius. When news of Hamlet's
madness circulate, Polonius is certain that his daughter Ophelia is responsible,
having made Hamlet lovesick. Worried that Hamlet's intentions for his daughter
are dishonorable, Polonius orders Ophelia to keep her distance. Later when
King Claudius needs information, Polonius uses his daughter to spy on Hamlet.
He even has Reynaldo, a servant spy on his own son Laertes in Paris. An
enthusiastic spy for King Claudius, Polonius is killed by Hamlet when he
attempts to listen in on a conversation between Hamlet and Queen Gertrude in
Act III, Scene IV. His death leads to Ophelia's madness and later drowning
brought on by grief and also to Laertes' alliance with King Claudius to kill
Hamlet, to avenge Polonius, his father's death.
Reynaldo: Servant to Polonius, Reynaldo is instructed to spy on his Laertes in
Paris in Act II, Scene I.
Laertes: Polonius' son, Laertes is held in high esteem for his fencing skills.
Famous for the advise, "to thine own self be true," (be true to yourself) and the
advise to "Neither a borrower, nor a lender be;" in Act I, Scene III. Laertes' role
in this play is minor until the death of his father Polonius. From this point on,
Laertes emerges as rather more assertive, confronting King Claudius personally
to know his father's whereabouts, arguing with a Priest for being disrespectful to
his sister, fighting Hamlet above his sister's grave and ultimately conspiring to
and killing Hamlet with the help of King Claudius. We see little of Laertes'
inner character however since he responds to events continuously. Loving of his
sister Ophelia, he must watch his sister's cruel decay into madness helplessly
following his father's death. Dies in Act V, Scene II, the victim of a wound
inflicted upon him by Hamlet with his own poison tipped sword.
Ophelia: The daughter to Polonius, Ophelia is loved by Hamlet. Unfortunately
as Queen Gertrude laments at Ophelia's funeral, Ophelia never marries Hamlet.
Dutiful to her father, she ignores Hamlet's romantic overtures when instructed to
ignore them by her father Polonius. Receives advice on how to live from brother
Laertes in Act I, Scene III. Though loved by Hamlet, Ophelia ultimately betrays
him by spying on him for King Claudius. As a result Hamlet mercilessly insults
her virtue during the play "The Murder of Gonzago" in Act III, Scene II. A
dutiful daughter, Ophelia descends into madness from the grief of losing her
father Polonius and later drowns in circumstances that suggest a possible
suicide. Her funeral is the location of a fight between Hamlet and Laertes that
centers on which loved her more; Hamlet believes he did, resenting Laertes
exaggerated emphasis of his sorrow...
Fortinbras: Prince of Norway. The son of King Fortinbras, who was defeated
by King Hamlet, Young Fortinbras has raised an army to reclaim the lands lost
by his father to King Hamlet and Denmark. Convinced into attacking the Polish
instead, Young Fortinbras displays all the noble, honor driven qualities, Hamlet
wishes he had. At the end of the play, Young Fortinbras is recommended by
Hamlet to be the next King of Denmark. Parallels Hamlet's character in that like
Hamlet his father was a ruler (King of Norway) and that both are now nephews
to the current rulers of their lands..
Rosencrantz, Guildenstern: Courtiers to King Claudius, both these men grew
up with Hamlet. As a result King Claudius recruits them to spy on Hamlet for
him. Neither man has a problem trading in their friendship to betray Hamlet;
they serve the King. Both die when the instructions they bear from King
Claudius are altered by Hamlet to instruct King Claudius' English associates to
kill those bearing his commission immediately (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern).
Voltimand, Cornelius, Osric and a Gentleman: Courtiers.
A Priest: Introduces at Ophelia's funeral, the Priest insults Laertes by
expressing his personal opinion that Ophelia does not deserve a proper Christian
burial for ending her life by suicide, which was considered a sin unworthy of
proper burial.
Marcellus and Bernardo: Officers who initially spot King Hamlet's Ghost in
Act I, Scene I.
Francisco: A soldier. Famous for the lines "'tis [it is] bitter cold, / And I am sick
at heart" which sets the tone of this tragedy.
A Captain, English Ambassadors, Players, Two Clowns (Gravediggers),
Lords, Ladies, Officers, Soldiers, Sailors, Messengers, and Attendants.
Macbeth Characters guide studies each character's role and motivation in
this play.
The Three Witches: Introduced to us in the opening scene, the Three Witches
set Macbeth upon his murderous path. They tell Macbeth that he will be Thane
(Lord) of Cawdor and later the King. Later by use of the Three Apparitions,
they foretell his doom. Symbolic of both the underworld and the mysticism of
the 1500s, they are synonymous with the theme of evil in this play.
Macbeth: The tragic focus of this play. Originally a loyal and honest man, his
descent into murder and betrayal is the tale of how ambition can tarnish even
the purest of souls. Driven by loyalty to King Duncan, his own "Vaulting
ambition," leads to him killing King Duncan to secure his own destiny. The man
at the end of play is one we would barely recognize from the loyal Macbeth we
meet at the beginning.
Lady Macbeth: Macbeth's wife. Her ambition for Macbeth's future rivals and
arguably exceeds that of Macbeth's. She goads Macbeth to kill King Duncan
when Macbeth hesitates. Later despite the appearance of calm, she becomes
increasingly obsessed with the blood on her hands which no one else can see. A
study of the apparent falsehood of denying ones conscience and feelings.
Banquo: Loyal friend of Macbeth. He bares witness to the initial prophecies
made by the Three Witches. Though eager to learn his own destiny, Banquo
serves as a counterpoint to how one deals with fate. Macbeth kills to reach his.
Banquo is content to let destiny carve it's own path. Later killed to preserve
Macbeth's status, he reappears as a ghost.
Fleance: Son of Banquo and the first in a line of kings prophesied by the Three
Witches. Escaping when his father was killed, Fleance represents a future
Macbeth cannot bear; a line of kings following Banquo and not his own sons.
Duncan, King of Scotland: The loyal but naïve, trusting King. At the
beginning of the play when Duncan is betrayed by the original Thane of
Cawdor, he grants this title upon the loyal Macbeth who secured the King
victory in battle against this Thane of Cawdor. Ironically, King Duncan later
dies at the sword of the trusted Macbeth, the new Thane of Cawdor. His death
sets up the theme of the natural order being disturbed, later alluded to by the
Old Man.
Malcolm & Donalbain: The two sons of King Duncan. Upon their father's
death, they flee to avoid a similar fate. Donalbain heads to Ireland, whilst
Malcolm heads to England where he hopes to build an army to take back the
kingdom from the evil Macbeth.
Hecate: A shadowy character of the underworld, she commands and demands
the loyalty and respect of the Three Witches. We first meet her when she
belittles the Three Witches for helping an ungrateful Macbeth. She later
commands them to tell Macbeth his future according to her will, when next the
Three Witches and Macbeth meet.
Macduff: Born unnaturally by caesarian section, this nobleman of Scotland
restores Malcolm to his rightful place as king. Alluded to by The Second
Apparition as an agent of Macbeth's downfall, he loses his wife and children to
Macbeth who had them murdered.
Siward: Leader of the English army, some ten thousand strong which defeats
Macbeth at the end of the play. He loses his son, Young Siward to Macbeth.
Young Siward: The son of Siward, he dies fighting Macbeth. Being of natural
birth, his death at Macbeth's hands strengthens Macbeth's belief of invincibility.
Lennox, Ross, Menteith, Angus and Caithness: Noblemen of Scotland
fighting Macbeth.
An Old Man: Though a peripheral character, he is an important one for the
play's theme of order. He tells us about the storms in Scotland during Macbeth's
reign. This represents nature being disrupted by King Duncan's untimely death
underscoring the notion that nature is in order when a land is ruled by its
rightful King. An important character to the theme that Macbeth is an example
of royalist propaganda.
Seyton: A lieutenant of Macbeth's.
Boy, Son of Macduff, An English Doctor, A Scotch doctor, A Sergeant.
Lords ,Gentlemen, Officers, Soldiers, Murderers, Attendants, Messengers ,
The Ghost of Banquo and other Apparitions.
Othello Characters guide studies each character's role and motivation in
this play.
Duke of Venice: Introduced to us in Act I, Scene III, he sends Othello with his
wife Desdemona to Cypress to thwart a suspected Turkish invasion there. The
Duke hopes Othello's leadership of his Venetian forces will see the Venetian's
triumphant. When Brabantio tries to have Othello punished for allegedly
seducing his daughter Desdemona with witchcraft, the Duke displays his
wisdom, learning the truth by allowing Brabantio, Othello and Desdemona to
tell their sides of the story. He later wisely tells Brabantio to accept Othello and
Desdemona's marriage, arguing Brabantio will gain a "son" in the process.
Responsible for Cassio being made Governor of Cypress (replacing Othello), in
Act IV, Scene I and for Othello being recalled from Cypress.
Brabantio: Desdemona's father and a senator in Venice, he is initially outraged
in Act I, Scene I when Iago and Roderigo unfairly report that his fair daughter
has been seduced by Othello who must have been using "magic" to persuade her
to be intimate with him. In Act I, Scene III, Brabantio tries to petition the Duke
to punish Othello, but this fails when it is learned that Desdemona fell in love
with Othello by her own free will. Told by the Duke to accept Othello and
Desdemona's marriage, Brabantio resists, never liking Othello despite his
reputation as a soldier, which is how Othello is readily accepted and respected
by the Duke and others...
Gratiano: Brother to Brabantio, we see little of him, except largely in Act V,
Scene I, when he discovers with Lodovico, the wounded Cassio, thought to
have been wounded by Roderigo when we later learn it was really Iago who
stabbed him.
Lodovico: Kinsman to Brabantio, and very active in Act V, Scenes I and II, he
discovers the wounded Cassio along with Gratiano and is scolded with Gratiano
by Iago for not doing more to help Cassio when both men are still unaware that
Iago wounded Cassio, not Roderigo.
In Act V, Scene II, Lodovico criticizes Othello for murdering his wife
Desdemona and falling from grace to act like a common slave not the respected
man he once was. Additionally, Lodovico plays an active role in the discovery
process of Iago's treachery, by finding on the dead Roderigo a note indicating
Cassio was to be killed, learning that Othello killed Desdemona, discovering
Othello's and Iago's plot to kill Cassio and finally learning the sad story of how
Othello's handkerchief was used by Iago to manipulate Othello into believing
his wife was unfaithful which led to her death as well as Iago's wife, Emilia.
Responsible by nature, he seizes control of events in the final scene, taking
Othello's sword from him after he wounds Iago and later places Cassio in
charge of the evil Iago while he heads abroad to recount the sad events that have
happened in Cypress.
Othello: A noble "Moor", in the service of the Venetian State, Othello is
introduced to us in the very first scene by the term "Moor", when Iago
complains that Othello has made Cassio his lieutenant and not him. We also
learn from Iago that Othello has a relationship with the fair Desdemona.
Respected by the Duke of Venice, who is the first to address him by name
(Othello in Act I, Scene III) and who sends for him when Cypress is threatened
by Turkish forces, Othello is continuously described by his critics (Brabantio,
Iago) as a "Moor" a reference to his dark skinned appearance and a reference to
the race of Muslim peoples of north-western Africa to which Othello belongs.
Though made Governor of Cypress in Act I, Scene III, Othello's fortunes rapidly
change for the worst as Iago succeeds in making Othello believe his loyal wife
is having an affair with his lieutenant Cassio, a belief that leads to Othello
killing his loyal, loving wife and later himself when he realizes that he was
wrong and merely tricked by Iago.
Tactful and wise, Othello does not fight Brabantio when he accuses him of
bewitching his daughter in Act I. Instead he offers no resistance and speaks with
Brabantio before the Duke where Othello with Desdemona's testimony, proves
his marriage is one made of love not witchcraft. Polite and courteous, he
addresses the Duke and company in Act I as "My very noble and approv'd good
masters," (Act I, Scene III, Line 77).
Nonetheless he allows the threat to his pride that Desdemona's infidelity would
represent, to allow him to trust Iago on some very circumstantial evidence (Iago
saying Cassio boasted of sleeping with Desdemona, Cassio having Desdemona's
handkerchief and Cassio talking about a woman Othello does not realize is
Bianca) which leads to his murdering his wife, to prevent her abusing other men
when we really know it is to avenge his own pride.
Ultimately Othello realizes this but too late after killing his loving and trusting
wife. Othello does stab Iago in revenge but Iago lives, whilst Othello does not,
committing suicide shortly after realizing he misplaced his trust in Iago when he
should have trusted his wife.
In addition to losing his life, Othello also loses his reputation in Act V, when
Lodovico scolds Othello for acting like a common slave, when until recently he
was so much more, a man well respected by the Duke of Venice amongst others.
A tragic figure, Othello allowed his misplaced trust (in Iago's honesty) and his
pride to undo all that he had...
Cassio: Othello's friend, Cassio was made Othello's lieutenant rather than Iago
who expected the appointment. Disrespectfully described by Iago as lacking
real "battlefield" experience, Cassio is instead a schooled soldier, not one who
learned his craft on the front-line as Iago has. Deeply admiring of Othello's wife
Desdemona, it is this admiration that Iago uses to suggest he is having an affair
with Desdemona, leading to her death and indirectly that of Emilia and Othello
as well.
Through the course of this tragedy, Cassio's fortunes change considerably. In
Act I, he is Othello's loyal and trusted lieutenant. In Act II, he is Othello's loyal
friend in Cypress and respectful admirer of Desdemona but in Act II, Scene III,
is manipulated to fight Roderigo, hitting him and Montano, and consequently
losing his position as Othello's "lieutenant".
In Act III, Iago is Othello's remorseful friend who hopes Desdemona's good
words will reinstate him, unaware that they merely implicate him in Iago's plan
to make him look like Desdemona's lover and Cassio also reveals himself to be
a neglectful boyfriend to his mistress Bianca.
In Act IV, Cassio is manipulated into talking about his girlfriend Bianca,
unaware that Othello, hiding nearby assumes his hand gestures are descriptions
of Desdemona.
Finally in Act V, Cassio first fights off an ambush by an Iago manipulated
Roderigo, then is stabbed by Iago in the dark to later outlive Othello,
Desdemona and Emilia and be placed in charge of the now exposed and captive
Iago.
Iago: Othello's ancient, a position below lieutenant. Perhaps Shakespeare's most
evil figure, not for his treachery which is arguably surpassed by Macbeth (who
kills his king in his sleep while staying at his castle as a trusting guest), but for
the manner in which he effortlessly manipulates all those around him to do his
bidding (kill Cassio, destroy Othello, discredit Desdemona's virtue) by taking
advantage of their trust and using his victim's own motivations (Roderigo's
desire for Desdemona, Cassio's desire to be reinstated) and weaknesses
(Othello's pride, Cassio's impaired judgment whilst drunk), to achieve his ends.
Though Iago does kill when he stabs and murders Roderigo, he created most of
his devastation through the use of others who unwittingly follow their own
agenda which Iago subverts to achieve a web of events which succeeds in
making Cassio first lose his position as Othello's lieutenant, then petition
Desdemona to be reinstated which allows Iago to suggest Desdemona's adultery
and later to motivate Roderigo to kill him (Cassio).
Iago's character is complex, but in Act I, Scene I, where he describes his disgust
at being overlooked for Othello's lieutenant, we can see that a primary
motivation for Iago's skillful manipulations was revenge and anger; revenge for
Cassio replacing him, anger that Othello overlooked him. Thus it can be seen
that Iago's manipulations are driven by a basic desire to avenge those who hurt
him but also to gain what he believes is his, indeed Iago's suggestion that Cassio
and Desdemona are having an affair earns Iago Othello's trust and the position
as his lieutenant in Act III, Scene III.
However being made lieutenant only satisfies his pride, his continuing with his
plan to discredit Desdemona shows us that it is not enough for Iago to have
what he believes is his, he must punish Othello for overlooking him in the first
place by making Othello disbelieve and destroy his virtuous wife...
Iago is pragmatic. We see this in the manner in which he uses opportunity to aid
his plan to hurt Cassio and Othello. When Iago realizes Cassio's admiration of
Desdemona, he immediately formulates a plan to use this to make Othello
suspect adultery.
Though Iago appears to have the goal of misery for Othello and Cassio, he does
not appear to have a specific detailed plan, he continually refers to using
insights he makes about Cassio, Othello, Roderigo and Desdemona to further
his plan in his asides in the play.
Iago's pragmatism is also evident in his use of Roderigo. He uses this well-
healed (wealthy) Venetian for money by promising to forward gifts on to
Desdemona he instead uses for his own ends.
However when Roderigo suspects this in Act V, he plots to have Roderigo kill
Cassio since if Cassio wins, he still wins by having Roderigo eliminated.
Ultimately this fails, so Iago kills Roderigo himself.
Cunning in the extreme, Iago nearly gets away with his plan; Othello does kill
Desdemona, Iago is made lieutenant, but Cassio despite his attack in Act V,
lives and he (Iago) is eventually caught and exposed.
If Iago has an Achilles heal, it was his wife Emilia, who despite threats and
orders from Iago, revealed to all Iago's treachery by declaring Desdemona's
innocence and explaining how she found Desdemona's handkerchief, passing it
on to Iago... For this Iago shows his total ruthlessness by killing Emilia and
escaping, only to be later caught.
Though Iago appears to be managing everyone else's insecurities to his personal
advantage, Iago does indeed have his own insecurities, lending credibility to his
character since no man is immune from insecurity or indeed misjudgment.
Iago shows his insecurity by his need to be made lieutenant, which reveals his
own desire to reach a status he seems to need to be comfortable.
Likewise, in Act II, Scene I, when Iago reveals that he suspects Othello is
having an affair with his wife Emilia as a peripheral motivation for
manipulating Othello, he again shows his insecurity, one which he uses in
Othello against Desdemona.
Iago's great misjudgment of course is of his own wife. She stands up to him to
defend Desdemona despite all the risks it entails, unraveling Iago's web of
manipulation.
At the end of the play, Iago differs from many of Shakespeare's villains in that
he is left standing, if guarded; most villains in Shakespeare's plays tend to die at
the hands of those they oppressed in a recurring theme of restoration of order.
Iago by contrast does not die, we can only speculate that his future will be
miserable...
Roderigo: A wealthy Venetian gentleman, Roderigo pays Iago to keep him
informed of Desdemona's activities since he hopes to one day marry her.
Trusting of Iago, he nonetheless questions Iago repetitively on his loyalty to him
in Act I, and later on what has happened to gifts given to him to pass on to
Desdemona in Act V.
Nonetheless he listens to Iago's calls not to give up when he learns of
Desdemona's marriage, unaware he is being led on a fool's quest to simply
finance Iago. Lured by Iago to fight Cassio twice (First in Act II, Scene III and
later in Act V, Scene I), Roderigo is ultimately killed by Iago.
Montano: Othello's predecessor in the Government of Cyprus, Montano deeply
respects Othello. Nonetheless Montano is trusting and easily manipulated since
he readily believes Iago's assertions that Cassio, Othello's "lieutenant" has a
drinking problem.
A victim of Roderigo and Cassio's first fight, he is wounded trying to break up
the fight, a contributing factor to Othello demoting Cassio.
Clown: Servant to Othello, he mocks the musicians, Cassio had arranged to
play before the castle in an effort to appease Othello in Act III, Scene I.
The Clown mocks the Cyprian Musician's instruments, wondering aloud if they
are "wind instruments?" (Line 6) before Cassio pays him relay a message to
Emilia to come and talk to Cassio which she does, revealing Othello and
Desdemona have discussed him, Othello wanting to reinstate Cassio as his
lieutenant but being prevented by Cassio's infamy on Cypress from his fight
with Roderigo.
Desdemona: Daughter to Brabantio and wife to Othello, Desdemona is
continuously distrusted by those who should love and trust her most. First in Act
I, her father Brabantio refuses to believe she could love Othello without Othello
using witchcraft.
Later Othello, her husband ignores her pleas of innocence to the accusation of
infidelity by Othello. Loving and loyal right to the end, she refuses to tell Emilia
that Othello killed her since she does not want her love to suffer even when he
killed her...
Well meaning, she helps Cassio by trying to speak of his demotion to Othello
but this earns her Othello's wrath since he sees it as proof that she is having an
affair with Cassio because she is concerned for his welfare.
Naive to some extent, she finds it impossible to believe a woman could be
unfaithful, Emilia contrasting with her belief that such people do exist since in
the right circumstances she herself, would commit adultery.
Emilia: Wife to Iago and not particularly loved by Iago, Emilia could be argued
to be a major seed in Iago's downfall. Though introduced in Act II, Scene I
(Lines 96-108) in less than respectful tones by Iago, Emilia is trusted as a friend
by Desdemona. Nonetheless she is loyal to Iago, giving Desdemona's
handkerchief to Iago instead of back to Desdemona.
Emilia's greatest character development occurs in Act IV, Scene II, where she
declares that she would be unfaithful in the right circumstances, revealing
considerably less naivety than Desdemona who barely believes adulterous
people exist.
As Desdemona's confidante, she ironically and unwittingly reveals the source of
Othello's anger when she says that Othello has obviously been tricked into
believing Desdemona would be unfaithful by an evil man (Iago but not named).
In Act V, Scene II, Emilia reveals her true loyalties however by refusing to be
dismissed by Iago when she reveals that she gave Iago Desdemona's
handkerchief, a revelation that proves Desdemona was not unfaithful. For this,
Emilia is stabbed by her husband, dying whilst singing the "Willow Song", a
song told to her by Desdemona..
Bianca: Mistress to Cassio, Bianca plays a limited but significant role in this
play. As Cassio's neglected girlfriend, she is given Desdemona's handkerchief to
copy by Cassio, only later to return it angrily back to Cassio, which a hiding
Othello takes as proof that Cassio has Desdemona's handkerchief proving that
Desdemona was unfaithful to him.
Bianca is later implicated in Cassio's wounding by Iago even though she is
innocent and it was Iago who in the dark stabbed Cassio.
Sailor, Officers, Gentlemen, Messengers, Musicians, Heralds, Attendants.
King Lear Characters guide studies each character's role and motivation in
this play.
Lear, King of England: The tired ruler of England, his plan to divide his
kingdom between his three daughters and then place his welfare in their trust
leads to his humiliation and total loss of power at the hands of his cruel
daughters, Regan and Goneril. He misjudges all those around him in the first
act, banishing those who care for him the most whilst rewarding those whose
kind words prove false. Only after enduring multiple humiliations and betrayals
does Lear gain true wisdom and insight, only to die soon thereafter.
Goneril (wife to The Duke of Albany): Lear's selfish, ruthless daughter. When
Lear asks her to profess her love for him before he gives her part of his
kingdom, she professes great love for Lear, "Sir, I love you more than words
can wield the matter;" (Act I, Scene I, Line 57). Yet, once Lear has given her
half his kingdom, she shirks her obligations to host King Lear by making life so
miserable at her castle that King Lear has no choice but to disown her.
The famous expression of the pain of thankless children originates in King
Lear's comments of Goneril, when he exclaims, "How sharper than a serpent's
tooth it is / To have a thankless child!" (Act I, Scene IV, Line 312).
Regan (wife to The Duke of Cornwall): The second of King Lear's daughters
to falsely profess her love then betray Lear. She professes that she is "made of
that self metal as my sister", adding that "I profess / Myself an enemy to all
other joys / Which the most precious square of sense possesses… In your dear
highness' love" (Act I Scene I, Lines 71-78). She too betrays Lear, denying him
her castle on the terms obliged by her as a loyal daughter.
Cordelia: Lear's youngest daughter, she refuses to profess blinding love for her
father, instead offering only that which is true. When pushed by Lear to profess
her love, she exclaims that "I cannot heave / My heart into my mouth: I love
your majesty / According to my bond; nor more nor less" (Act I, Scene I, Line
93).
Unlike her sisters, Cordelia does not and will not use "that glib and oily art" of
her sisters "To speak and purpose not;" (to say what one does not mean), (Act I,
Scene I, Lines 228-229).
In return for not lying as her sisters have done, she is banished by Lear and
given nothing. Only later does Lear learn the truth that Cordelia's love for him is
indeed "More richer than my tongue" (Act I, Scene I, Line 80).
Duke of Burgundy: A suitor for Cordelia's hand, he stops seeking Cordelia's
hand in marriage when Lear makes it clear that she no longer highly esteemed
in Lear's eyes. Cordelia rejects this Duke for whom wealth is so important.
King of France: The second suitor for Cordelia. Upon learning of Cordelia's
fall from favor (wealth), this King who can respect Cordelia's integrity, takes
her as his queen. The King of France's comments in Act I, Scene I makes this
clear:
"Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich, being poor; / Most choice, forsaken; and
most lov'd, despis'd! Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon:" (Line 253).
Duke of Cornwall (Regan's husband): The husband of Regan, she matches his
wife in his capacity for ruthlessness and calculated cruelty. When Regan pulls
out Gloucester's beard, he matches her by putting out Gloucester's eyes. Such is
his barbarity that one of his servants stabs him, being unable to tolerate further
his master's inhumanity.
Duke of Albany (Goneril's husband): As the husband of Goneril, this Duke
initially supports the cruel actions of his wife. With time, however, he grows
increasingly hostile towards the cruelty of his wife, becoming an agent of good
by the play's conclusion.
Earl of Kent: A loyal servant of Lear, he is banished by Lear for pleading a
reconsideration of Cordelia's fate. Despite the threat of death, he serves his King
faithfully in disguise.
Earl of Gloucester (Father of Edgar and illegitimately, Edmund): An ally of
Lear, only after he is blinded, does this man gain true insight and wisdom.
Parallels Lear's character in his initial gullibility and poor judgment of character
in this play. Dies at the end of the play from the duel emotions of grief and joy
when he learns that "poor Tom" who was protecting him was Edgar all along...
Edgar, son of Gloucester: As the loyal son of his father (the Earl of
Gloucester), he suffers greatly from his father's poor judgment of character.
Trusting his brother, he is character assassinated (lied about) by his brother
Edgar and forced to flee to survive. Like Cordelia, he comforts his father in his
hour of despair, but most do so in disguise despite his father realizing his truly
virtuous nature.
Edmund, illegitimate son of Gloucester: The illegitimate son of Gloucester,
he is loved as equally as his brother. Despite this, he frames his brother as a
would be father murderer, and betrays his father in order to gain favor with
Regan and Goneril. Also the source of romantic rivalry between Regan and
Goneril.
Curan: A Coutier
Oswald: Steward to Goneril, he mistreats both King Lear and his entourage to
provoke Lear into leaving his master's (Goneril's) castle. Killed by Edgar when
he attempts to kill the now blind and harmless Gloucester.
Old Man: Tenant to Gloucester.
Fool: One of the most famous characters in the play, his comic asides often
reveal the very foolishness of Lear's actions. His words are often ironically the
only source of wisdom, coherence and insight in Lear's pathetic entourage.