In Othello, the Venetian gentleman in love with Desdemona who is killed by Iago is Roderigo.
Roderigo is a wealthy Venetian who desperately wants to marry Desdemona. Because she has eloped with Othello, Roderigo feels betrayed and considers suicide. Iago exploits his obsession, repeatedly demanding money while promising that Desdemona may eventually be won.
Iago uses Roderigo as an accomplice in several schemes, including provoking Cassio into a drunken brawl and later attacking Cassio in Cyprus. Roderigo wounds Cassio but is himself badly injured. When Cassio identifies him as one of the attackers, Iago secretly stabs Roderigo to prevent him from exposing the conspiracy.
A common mix-up is Cassio, whom Roderigo attacks but does not kill. Bianca is a courtesan associated with Cassio, while Gratiano is a Venetian nobleman who appears in the final act. Roderigo has no direct counterpart in Cinthio’s source story.