Character in Othello
Cassio ♂ male
277Lines Spoken
1.2First Scene
5.2Last Scene
7.8%Of Play Dialogue
Cassio is the #4 largest role in Othello, speaking 277 lines (7.8% of the play) across 9 scenes from Act 1 through Act 5. Below: scene-by-scene line counts, who Cassio shares the stage with most, and key speech examples.
Cassio’s position in the full cast
| # | Role | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iago | 1,098 | 30.9% |
| 2 | Othello | 887 | 24.9% |
| 3 | Desdemona | 388 | 10.9% |
| 4 | Cassio (this role) | 277 | 7.8% |
| 5 | Emilia | 245 | 6.9% |
| 6 | Brabantio | 139 | 3.9% |
| 7 | Roderigo | 114 | 3.2% |
| 8 | Lodovico | 76 | 2.1% |
| 9 | Duke Of Venice | 73 | 2.1% |
| 10 | Montano | 61 | 1.7% |
How Cassio’s dialogue distributes across the play
Cassio’s dramatic peak falls in Act 2 with 131 lines — the act where the role carries the most weight on stage.
Voice signature
Opening line (Act 1, Scene 2): “The duke does greet you, general,”
Representative speech (Act 2, Scene 3): “be souls must be saved, and there be souls must not be saved.”
Who Cassio shares the stage with
| Scene partner | Shared scenes |
|---|---|
| Iago | 9 |
| Othello | 8 |
| Emilia | 6 |
| Desdemona | 6 |
| Roderigo | 4 |
| Lodovico | 3 |
| Montano | 3 |
| Bianca | 3 |
| Gratiano | 2 |
| Clown | 2 |
Questions about Cassio
Is Cassio the lead role in Othello?
Cassio is ranked #4 by line count among 28 speaking characters in Othello — a major role carrying 7.8% of the play’s dialogue.
What is Cassio’s longest scene?
Act 2 Scene 3, where Cassio speaks 77 lines.
Who does Cassio speak to the most?
Cassio shares the most scenes with Iago — 9 scenes together across Othello.