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 …show more content…
Even though he is angry with Othello, Iago admits that Venice doesn 't have a better military man. He tells Roderigo that Othello won 't lose his job over his marriage to Desdemona because the Venetian Senate can 't do without him. Later, the Duke tells Othello that he must leave for Cyprus immediately, even though he is newly married. The Duke says that the Venetians already have a good man in Cyprus, but "opinion, a / sovereign mistress of effects, throws a more safer / voice on you" (1.3.257-259). In other words, Othello 's reputation is such that no one will feel safe until he is on the job. Shakespeare makes it clear from the first act that Othello is a praised and highly respected …show more content…
After learning from Desdemona that Othello is upset, Iago response saying, “Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon / When it hath blown his ranks into the air / And, like the devil, from his very arm / Puffed his own brother—and is he angry? / Something of moment then, I will go meet him. / There’s matter in ’t indeed, if he be angry.” (3.4.154-159) He has seen Othello in battle, keeping his head when men were dying all around him. Iago is a habitual liar, but there is no reason for him to lie about how Othello has conducted himself in battle. He says that if Othello is upset then something must be a good reason behind his anger. Of course, Iago knows the reason but he can not let Desdemona or Cassio know of his plan. Lodovico, a member of Venice 's diplomatic service, makes a similar remark about the Moor’s composer after he smacks his wife. He is in utter disbelief at the man actions. “Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate / Call all in all sufficient? Is this the nature / Whom passion could not shake? Whose solid virtue / The shot of accident nor dart of chance / Could neither graze nor pierce?” he asks. (4.1.297-301) Othello is unravelling at this point. His jealous is so strong that he has lost the very nature of his being. Instead of being a calm, collected leader, he is now acting
Othello, a play by William Shakespeare, tells the tragic tale of the black Venetian general, Othello, and how he is manipulated by his ambitious friend, Iago. Iago becomes angry at Othello when he promotes Michael Cassio rather than Iago to the lieutenancy. Iago then schemes a plot to take down Othello. Iago uses Desdemona, Othello’s new wife, to take down the great general. He leads Othello to considering that his wife is cheating on him with Michael Cassio. This causes Othello to become suspicious and eventually drives Othello into killing Desdemona. In the end, Othello learns that his wife was faithful, and Iago had lied to him. This upsets Othello and causes him to also kill himself. Iago’s many motives are never revealed to the audience or the characters as in the last scene he states, “Demand me nothing. What you know, you know. From this time forth I never will speak word.” (Othello. Act 5 Scene 2: 355-356). In the play Othello, Iago is the master manipulator that formulates devious plots against the characters of Roderigo, Cassio, and Othello by using their desires to his advantage to reveal their underlying weaknesses.
Another tragic hero is Julius Caesar from “The Tragedy Of Julius Caesar” by William Shakespeare. Julius Caesar is a tragic hero because he is stubborn, and thinks he is untouchable because he is so popular. Brutus, Julius’s close friend, was talked into stopping Julius Caesar from gaining absolute power. Cassius, the man who convinced Brutus to stop Caesar, was gathering more conspirators so they could assassinate Caesar.
Iago plans to revenge Othello for not choosing him to become lieutenant, and knowing that Othello is easily deceived makes it easier for Iago to manipulate him. Iago’s revenge did not only start because he was not chosen to be lieutenant, but also because Iago had suspicions that Othello was with Emilia, his wife. “I hate the Moor, And it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets’ Has done my office. I know not if’t be true, But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, Will do as if for surety” (Shakespeare 55). Iago, earlier mentions his hate for Othello for not choosing him to be lieutenant, but now he suspects Othello is sleeping with his wife. Iago does not care if his suspicions are true, he will act as if it is true. With or without evidence Iago will find a way to control Othello because he knows he is too naïve. “After some time, to abuse Othello’s ear That he is too familiar with his wife. He hath a person and a smooth dispose To be suspected, framed to make women false. The Moor is of a free and open nature That thinks men honest that but...
Othello was convinced he was acting nobly when he was committing his actions even though he was not being a noble character. Othello’s character embodies having a strong sense of nobility and dignity throughout the play. As Iago deceives Othello he loses his nobility contributing to his downfall. Othello’s reaction to murdering his wife is when he realises that he is at a very low point, and almost can’t escape to reality anymore. ‘My parts, my title, and my perfect soul shall manifest me rightly.’ The quote used to brand Othello to his word is quickly seen as ego instead of elegant talk. Learning that Iago was lying this whole time is when Othello quickly overwhelms with grief and has to kill himself to re-establish himself with is nobility and have a noble
Webster’s dictionary defines tragedy as, “a serious drama typically describing a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force (such as destiny) and having a sorrowful or disastrous conclusion that excites pity or terror.” A tragic hero, therefore, is the character who experiences such a conflict and suffers catastrophically as a result of his choices and related actions. The character of Hamlet, therefore, is a clear representation of Shakespeare’s tragic hero.
A tragic hero may be defined as a literary character that makes a judgment error which inevitably leads to his/her own destruction. Criteria for a character to be considered a tragic hero includes the character dying due to their hamartia, or fatal flaw, the character being fated by the gods to a tragic downfall, the character being of high social class, the character making error in their own judgement, and the character gaining some kind of self-knowledge throughout their journey. Not all of these characteristics are required for one to be considered a tragic hero, and thus characters such as Oedipus, Prince Hamlet, and Romeo may be considered tragic heroes. Along with this list, Julius Caesar of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is also often credited as being a tragic hero. The play, following the turmoil occurring within the Roman senate, involves a
The insecurities of Othello were slowly coming so close to the surface that just a few simple words of suggestion and allusion from Iago would show to be enough to expose his fears, wishes, and inclination to violence. Othello could not stand uncertainty – it drove him to abolish all rationalization. However, Othello is the type of man that once he makes a decision, he is again the military man, convincing in act. Iago only had to lead Othello to the belief that he has been betrayed, and Othello does the rest, accusing, judging, and killing dear Desdemona.
Iago’s observance and quiet intake of Othello in both battle and as a leader gave Iago the upper hand in realizing the Moor’s weaknesses. A.C. Bradley, who has studied the great tragedies of Shakespeare, believes that “...Othello 's mind, for all its poetry, is very simple. He is not observant. His nature tends outward. He is quite free from introspection, and is not given to reflection. Emotion excites his imagination, but it confuses and dulls his intellect” (A.C. Bradley, Shakespearean Tragedy). Iago is well aware of Othello’s ‘quick to trust’ mentality, and uses this along with the hero’s passionate means of carrying out his business to break him down. Once the thought was repeated enough to Othello that his sweet wife Desdemona had cheated on him, Othello took this to be the truth entirely and there was no looking back for this tragic hero. Othello’s flaw that Iago wished to magnetize was the way in which he had absolute trust for those around him; in the end this very concept of always believing what one hears is what brought the Moor to his
All people have their fate and destiny, and is up to them to follow it or deny it. In the play Othello, the protagonist, Othello is a tragic hero because he identifies with all the traits as one, such as a tragic flaw that causes the downfall of the hero, catharsis, and when the protagonist discovers someone’s true identity.
Othello’s nature as a noble and honest man works against him, as he assumes that other men are like him. To near comedic effect, almost every single time Othello refers to Iago, he lauds him as honest and true. “Honest Iago…” (1.3.293). states Othello, unaware of Iago’s true nature, and without the character to even consider otherwise. Iago’s ruse is meticulously crafted, as it fools not only Othello, but Cassio as well. Cassio declares “I never knew a Florentine more kind and honest./“ (3.1.38). To have tricked plenty, Iago seems to be singularly responsible for Othello’s fall, but he ominously notes “Reputation is an idle and most false imposition, oft got without/ merit and lost without deserving…” (2.3.251-252). Othello never questions Iago’s motives, putting up only the smallest of doubts which are quickly addressed by Iago. Othello places his trust in Iago, because he believes that Iago is noble and honest just like him. Iago states “The Moor–howbe’t that I endure him not–/ Is of a constant, loving, noble nature,/“ (2.1.275-276). The contrast between Iago and Othello is high, for Othello is a man who has earned his reputation as honest and noble, while Iago has created his with empty words and subterfuge. Othello’s trust in Iago is taken to a dramatic end, when he states “Why did I marry? This honest creatures doubtless/ Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds./“ (3.3.248-249). Othello disregards his own marriage, and holds Iago’s opinions above that of his own concerning the matter. It inspires Othello to murder Desdemona, who is entirely innocent of any wrong doings. Othello also endorses the attempted murder of Cassio, who he deems guilty of cuckolding him. “…O brave Iago, honest and just,/ Thou hast such noble sense of thy friend’s wrongs–/“ (5.1.32-33). Even after Othello murder Desdemona, and hears the attack on
A tragic hero is a character in a tragedy whose tragic flaw leads to their inevitable downfall. In Shakespeare’s Othello, Othello bears the title of a tragic hero. Othello is a tragic hero because he has the fatal flaw of jealousy, he is liked by the audience and Othello changes society.
Iago changes Othello’s mindset and he changes how other view him. He leads Othello into suspecting that Cassio is having an affair with his wife, Desdemona. Iago comes up with a variety of plans in order to destroy the characters. The main character of the play trusts Iago and he believes that he is a truthful man, he believes that Iago is telling him the truth about everything. In the following quote, Iago says “The Moor is of a free and open nature, that thinks men honest that but seem to be so, and will as tenderly be led by the nose as asses are.” (I. III). Before this scene, Othello trusts Iago with his wife and tells him to escort her to Cyprus. Iago knows that Othello considers him as a sincere friend and he plans on using that in his deceitful plans.
Othello was one of the most trustworthy generals of the Venetian army. He is well respected among the people in Cyprus. Desdemona and Othello were speaking to Lodovico, and she brought up Cassio, which enraged Othello because he believes they are having an affair. Desdemona mentions that Cassio is an honorable man who just made a small mistake which angers Othello even more because she is defending him. Othello is so furious that he slaps her right in front of Lodovico. He is shocked by Othello’s actions he questions Iago, who is the current lieutenant. Lodovico states, “Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate/ Call all in all sufficient? Is this the nature/ Whom passion could not shake?”(4.1.297-299). Lodovico is questioning whether Othello is the same leader who the senate thought was capable of handling an army. He is also saying that wasn’t Othello the leader who use to be calm regardless of the conflicts that occur. Moreover, he is questioning Othello’s abilities as a leader and a husband. He is confused why a man like Othello would ever hit his own wife. This shows that Lodovico doesn’t respect Othello like before, he ruined his reputation by acting so irrational and abusing his wife. Additionally, Othello married the girl of everyone’s dreams. He married a Venetian Senator’s beautiful daughter named
Shakespeare has shown us three very different but somewhat similar tragic heroes through three of his most famous books.At the bottom of the totem pole we have Macbeth a greedy,power hungry man that dies of his own sins of greed and blind ambition. Macbeth is one of the two heroes that followed the voice of someone else,such as the witches and his wife. Next, we have the second most tragic hero,Othello an ignorant, love struck man that dies of his own insecurities, and having the characteristics of being a follower.Finally we have the most tragic of them all, Hamlet. A man who is scarred by the death of his father and the betrayal of his mother, he dies of his tragic flaw, thinking too much and not acting on his
The tragedy of Hamlet, Shakespeare’s most popular and greatest tragedy, presents his genius as a playwright and includes many numbers of themes and literary techniques. In all tragedies, the main character, called a tragic hero, suffers and usually dies at the end. Prince Hamlet is a model example of a Shakespearean tragic hero. Every tragedy must have a tragic hero. A tragic hero must own many good traits, but has a flaw that ultimately leads to his downfall. If not for this tragic flaw, the hero would be able to survive at the end of the play. A tragic hero must have free will and also have the characteristics of being brave and noble. In addition, the audience must feel some sympathy for the tragic hero.