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Othello Othello is ultimately a tragic hero in the Greek tradition defined by the critic, Aristotle's concept of a tragic hero. To find the meaning of a tragic hero we must define what a tragic and hero mean. A tragic event is disastrous, dreadful or fateful. A tragic story or play has a serious theme usually results in death or defeat. This essays will discuss the characteristics of main hero through other players. Othello begins to show a character flaw, his trusting nature, and a flaw that appears throughout the play.
He entrust his wife to the care of Iago and his wife Email, Othello speaks, A man he is of honesty and trust, to his conveyance I assign my wife, (Shakespeare, 49). This was after the council appointed him to lead their army to war in Cyprus. He must ship out to sea in the morning, but Desdemona begs the council to allow her to be by her husband side in his journey. The council agrees.
The journey to Cyprus leads Othello to select Cassio, (Othello's good friend), to be his lieutenant second in charge, because Cassio has proven himself in battle to be an honorable soldier and a man with a good reputation. Iago persuade Cassio to drink and lose control of himself where Iago encourages Cassio to get into a fight that awakes Othello out of his bed. Iago achieves this for two reasons: one so that Othello could see that Iago is more reputable than Cassio; next, to have Othello question his own judgment that choosing Cassio was a mistake. Iago then replaces Cassio as the lieutenant second in charge; now, he wins the confidence he needs so Othello may trust him. Iago plotting against Othello is a result of Iago (Othello's one time good friend) who, becomes consumed with anger and vengeance and the will to destroy Othello when Cassio is again given another high position by Othello. This decision by Othello to choose Cassio fosters a deep resentment in Iago's eyes, which leads to the beginning of his plot of destruction.
The turning point of Iago domination of Othello begins when Othello notices Cassio and Desdemona having a friendly relationship during a conversation between them. Iago plot is to lure Othello in believing Desdemona as an unfaithful wife, a wife having an affair with Cassio. A woman is, arguably, a mans greatest downfall; and it is proved true in Othello's case. Iago gets the opportunity to implant the seed of infidelity in Othello's head, and watches it grow only having to water it with more lies.
Consequently Iago uses the conversation of Cassio and Desdemona to further his plot against Othello and continues his road of destruction. During this time Othello's faith in Iago is ironically depicted when Othello states O brave Iago, honest and just, hast such noble sense of thy friend of thy friends wrong! Thou teaches me, (Shakespeare, 225). Iago has successfully defeated Othello against his own spirit and soul. Othello trusting nature is one of his greatest character fault that leads him into his own tragedy. Jealousy has begun to evolve from Iago deceitful plan.
The murder of Desdemona in her bed by Othello was a tragic murder. Later, Othello is given the information that he has been deceived by the one whom he has trusted and honor for life, Lord have mercy on me Othello speaks, [s]peak of me as I am; nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice: then must you speak of one that love not wisely but too well; Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought (Shakespeare, 263). Iago shows no concern for the values he has abused and the lives that has been taken for no apparent reason except hatred. Othello portrays the characteristics of a hero not a mythological hero who in the end comes back with a boon to restore the world, but unfortunately a tragic hero who ended the life of a faithful and noble wife. Desdemona loved without malice, and without faults and chains, she loved honestly and freely, but Othello also ended the life of a noble, strong and religious man (himself). Othello tragedy was caused by his own jealousy and the fact that he allowed Iago to manipulate him.
Although he was lead down a road of deceit, exploited of his trust and love by an evil man, Iago, these acts of unfaithfulness went unchecked, which led him to his own eventual self inflicted death. Bibliography: Bradley, A. C. Shakespearean Tragedy.
London: The Macmillan Co. New York: St Martins Press, 1964. Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice. New York: A Washington Square Press, 1993.
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