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Othello s Tragic Flaws In Shakespeare s tragedy, Othello, jealousy sparks the tragic downfall for the hero, Othello. In this play, Othello, a moor who serves as a general in the army of Venice, experiences a great downfall caused by love, prejudice, and jealousy. All tragedies have a hero with a tragic flaw. In this tragedy, the hero loves too well, lets prejudice issues take their toll on him, and allows jealousy to rage in his heart.
These characteristics are not necessarily bad, but when shown in extreme levels can cause the downfall of a great leader. In the beginning of this story, Othello falls in love with Desdemona, the daughter of a Venetian senator. Othello and Desdemona initially keep their love and marriage a secret for fear of her father not approving. Iago, Othello s captain in his army, tells Brabantio, Desdemona s father, of their deception and he goes to confront Othello.
Brabantio accuses Othello of using trickery to make Desdemona fall in love with him. Othello explains that he just told her stories about his life; she felt pity for him, and fell in love with him. He says, She loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she did pity them. (I. 2 lines 166 - 167). Othello loves Desdemona so much that he wants her to accompany him into the battlefield. He loved her so well that false jealousy caused him to murder her.
After this has been done, Othello explains in his speech before his death, Speak of me as I am Of one that loved not wisely but too well (V. 2 lines 343 - 344). Othello means that he loved Desdemona very much but unfortunately he wasn t very smart about it. Othello s love for Desdemona caused him to lose control of himself and his reason. He is blinded by this love and does not see when he is being conned by Iago. Iago seeking revenge on Othello planted the idea into his general s head about Desdemona being an unfaithful wife. Othello s love for Desdemona is true but it is hard for him to believe that she could love an outsider, a moor.
He fights among Venetian men who consider him a peer and friend, yet still his black skin separates him. Many times during the play he is referred to as the moor instead of by name like the other characters. Othello is very aware of the racial prejudice in the Venetian society but does not realize how much it has affected him. He allows this to make himself feel unworthy of Desdemona, which leads him to doubt her love for him. When Iago begins to infer the notion of Desdemona being in love with Cassio, a Venetian man, Othello does not find this hard to believe.
The most impacted character flaw of Othello is jealousy. His love for Desdemona and his prejudice notions make jealous feelings even more intense. Othello allows jealousy to overrule his thinking and judgement. When provoked by Iago Othello rages and makes irrational decisions and does unimaginable things.
Othello, being overtaken by jealous rage, murders Desdemona for sleeping with Cassio. From the moment he begins to suspect Desdemona s infidelity until she is dead he does not think nor behave rationally. Only after her death, when Othello knows of Iago s deception, does he begin to think clearly and realize what a horrible thing he has done. At the end of the play, when Othello realizes what a monster he has become he somewhat redeems himself by committing suicide. Othello has murdered and therefore should be killed so it is somewhat redeeming when he takes these matters into his own hands. Othello was a great military leader and hero until he allowed Iago to deceive him.
His downfall began with jealousy and ended in tragedy because he loves Desdemona too well and allows prejudice feelings of others to make him feel unworthy of her love.
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