How Is Othello A Tragic Hero

564 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Hamlet's grief description

Shakespeare's "Othello" is a great example of a very well written tragedy. Othello has three prime elements of a tragic hero. The first is the grief he had involving a friend and loved one. The second is his huge tragic flaw of being very gullible. Then the last is his sacrifice of suicide. Othello's true and hearty love for his wife and how Desdemona shows him her love by betraying her father, shows the string connection between the two of them. Which was a very strong connection due to all the love Othello had for her.
Othello was very honorable and was held high standards around Venice, and he was also a important and very beneficial leader. Every good leader has a lot of stress on them, no matter how good the leader is. He has the stress of battle on his …show more content…

Although the stress of the battle was never brought up in the play one could only imagine the stresses put on a leader with the many stories of the battle that Othello had told Brabantio. "Her father loved me, oft invited me; /Still questioned me the story of my life/From year to year- the battles sieges, fortunes/That I have passed."(I, iii, 128-131) The many battles and hard times of war will take a man down. The stress from stuff everyday at work will get to him but the stresses of a battle will always be way worse. Othello came across and was said to be a good leader with the respect of the Duke. The stress from being a black man that was leading an army of white men, that could respect you as a leader but may not respect you as a person could affect him also. Othello definetly handled the stress of battle just fine, but when the jealousy of the awful Iago, who was plotting

Show More
Related

  • How Othello Follows the Rules of Tragedy

    1573 Words  | 4 Pages

    How Othello Follows the Rules of Tragedy Tragedy is not just simply one sad event, in ancient Greek plays and in Shakespeare's tragedies it usually follows a number of common ingredients or rules. Firstly it involves a conspicuous or exceptional personality. For example in the occurrence of Princess Diana's death she was the exceptional character. She was a woman who had done an astonishing amount of work for charities and a Princess. The second rule of tragedy is that it must be unexpected and constructed with previous happiness or glory.

    Read More

  • Human Frailty in Othello

    1530 Words  | 4 Pages

    Tragedy is an intrinsically human concept; tragic heroes are damned by what they themselves do. Othello is not so much felled by the actions of Iago, but by a quality all people possess-- human frailty. Accordingly, Othello is not a victim of consequences, but an active participant in his downfall. He is not merely a vehicle for the machinations of Iago; he had free agency. Othello's deficiencies are: an insecure grasp of Venetian social values; lack of critical intelligence, self-knowledge, and faith in his wife; and finally, insecurity-- these are the qualities that lead to his own downfall.

    Read More

  • The Theme of Control in Shakespeare's Othello

    1006 Words  | 3 Pages

    At the beginning of the play, Othello is in control. First of all, Othello has military control. Being a seasoned warrior, he is appointed by the Duke of Venice to lead the Venetian forces. This position entails a great deal of control; as general, Othello has the power to organize and order the Venetian forces at will. Secondly, Othello has control in dangerous predicaments. After discovering the harmful intentions of Brabantio, Othello shows confidence of his control in Act I, Scene 2, and relies on his credentials: "Let him do his spite. My services which I have done the signiory Shall outtongue his complaints" (1.2.18-20). When Brabantio arrives with his troops and both sides draw their swords, Othello demonstrates his control again: "Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them" (1.2.59). Through the whole ordeal, Othello remains an author...

    Read More

  • Similarities And Differences Between Iliad And Othello

    1029 Words  | 3 Pages

    Othello is a combination of greatness and weakness, in his own words "an honorable murderer" (V.2, 295). He is the general of the Venetian defense forces, and, although a foreigner from Africa, he has won his post by his overall excellence in the field of war. Under pressure, he makes a great and inspiring speech. He has courage, intelligence, the skill of command, and the respect of his troops. When the colony of Cyprus is threatened by the enemy, the Duke and Senate turn to "valiant" Othello to lead the defense.

    Read More

  • Othello’s Physical and Psychological Journeys

    1008 Words  | 3 Pages

    Othello is the tragedy, and, incidentally, the name of a Moor who serves as a general in the Italian military. He spends the first act of Shakespeare’s play in Venice, but is ordered shortly to Cyprus to fight the Turkish invasion. His journey isn’t officially noticeable at all in the play. One moment he’s defending himself in the Senate of Venice, the next he’s in Cyprus, taking credit for being victorious in a battle the storms fought for him against the Turks. The story unravels from there. His soon-to-be-lieutenant, Iago, whispers in his ear about his wife, Desdemona, and the unforgivable crime of adultery, throwing Othello’s orderly world to the winds of fate.

    Read More

  • Othello Dynamic Character

    723 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hamlet. Romeo. Othello. These men not only star in some of Shakespeare’s finest plays, but they are all classic examples of tragic heroes. A tragic hero is one who is courageous and admired but who has a tragic flaw that leads to his downfall. Othello was one of the greatest military men of the time. He was highly respected among his superiors for both his military prowess and level headed nature. This was a man who could be in the heat of a battle and would remain collected. Though this great hero also had great shortcomings. Othello was naive, jealous, and concerned with public appearance. Othello is truly a dynamic character. As the play continues and his jealous increases, Othello gradually changes from a flawless military general into

    Read More

  • Othello is Not a Tragic Hero

    1483 Words  | 3 Pages

    Othello has been described as one of William Shakespeare’s most popular plays because the play focuses on its themes of good and evil, military, politics, love and marriage, religion, racial prejudice, gender conflict, and sexuality; but the controversy and debate surrounding Othello is “Why is Othello a qualification for a tragedy?”

    Read More

  • Othello, The Moor of Venice

    1326 Words  | 3 Pages

    The first rule that is met in Shakespeare’s play is that Othello is considered tragic hero, which every tragedy must contain. According to Aristotle, the tragic hero must be a man in a position of power who is a good person and makes a mistake during the timeline of the play due to a tragic flaw. Othello’s major flaw can be seen as jealousy: “Othello has often been described as a tragedy of character, as the play’s protagonist swiftly descends into a rage of jealousy

    Read More

  • Othello’s Dramatic Flaw in Shakespeare's Othello

    1362 Words  | 3 Pages

    The play “Othello” by William Shakespeare was written in 1604 during the Elizabethan era. Othello is one of the most extraordinary characters in all of Shakespeare’s dramas. He enjoyed unheralded success in the combat zone, which gave him the reputation as one of Venice’s most competent generals. Even though he has great success on the battlefield, he has a dramatic flaw that causes a downfall in his life. The dramatic flaw that caused his downfall is jealousy.

    Read More

  • Othello Analysis

    1139 Words  | 3 Pages

    The tragedy of Othello, written by William Shakespeare, presents the main character Othello, as a respectable, honorable, and dignified man, but because of his insecurities and good nature, he is easily taken advantage of and manipulated by his peers and alleged friends. The dynamic of Othello’s character significantly changes throughout the play. The contrast is most pronounced from the beginning of the play to its conclusion, switching from being calm and peaceful to acts of uncontrolled venomous rage. Othello’s motivation in the play appears to be his love and concern for his wife Desdemona, which ironically, ends up being his downfall in the end.

    Read More

  • Doubt in Shakespeare´s Othello

    581 Words  | 2 Pages

    Othello is a man who comes from a hard life. In the time period the play is set in, racism is common and Othello is a target for it due to his dark skin. He fought in many battles and was put into slavery for a time. Now he is a high ranking General in the army. Othello, for all that he has been through, is also kind, caring, and trusting of those close to him. He cares and trusts his comrades and is loving and kind to his wife, Desdemona. Othello is also r...

    Read More

  • The Dual Nature of Characters in Shakespeare's Othello

    566 Words  | 2 Pages

    Othello had a public perception of being a military man, and a courageous leader. “Valiant

    Read More

  • Othello's Tragic Flaw

    863 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the first impressions gained of Othello is that he is a great war hero. Before much else is said of him, tales of his skill and valor in battle are illustrated and he is shown to be a great and famed warrior. He naturally possesses many attributes typically associated with soldiers. From the beginning Othello is noble, quick to act, judicious, trusting, and gives much weight to the importance of duty. These are all traits that serve to make him great at the beginning of the play, and later, ironically become key elements in his downfall. These aspects can be considered the internal causes of Othello’s tragic flaw. “Othello's nature is all of one piece. His trust, where he trusts, is absolute…. Love, if he loves, must be to him the heaven where either he must leave or bear no life. If such a passion as jealousy seizes him, it will swell into a well-night incontrollable flood.” Othello is pure an...

    Read More

  • Tragic Hero's Downfall In Othello '

    775 Words  | 2 Pages

    In society there are always people who are easily manipulated and possess poor judgment. This leads them to make wrong decisions and negatively affect their lives and the lives of the people around them. The reason for Othello’s tragic downfall was because of his poor judgement, his easily manipulated conscience and his jealousy and obsession with. These traits displayed why Othello was responsible for the play’s tragic outcome.

    Read More

  • Othello: Admirable Leader but Poor Rationalist

    975 Words  | 2 Pages

    In William Shakespeare’s “Othello”, the main character is presented as an admirable leader but a poor rationalist. He is recognized as a hero with the qualities of vigor, charm, and eloquence. However these principles of leadership aren’t always viewed as the criteria for a leader. The battleground is, to Othello at least, is depicted as a place of admiration, where men speak truthfully to one another. Also, the given circumstances of state and warfare are rather straightforward; no one deceives Othello because as leader he should be esteemed. This one-dimensional view does not help him in issues of the heart though. Thus the main assessment of Othello must be that, even though he leads well and means well, he lacks sensible judgment and common wisdom. Evidently in his concluding two speeches, where Othello didn’t entirely understand the situation and not take responsibility for what has taken place.

    Read More

More about How Is Othello A Tragic Hero

Open Document