Othello
Fatal Flaw
The title character of Shakespeare’s play ‘Othello’ is heroic yet deeply flawed. He is
too trusting of his lieutenant, Iago, but his fatal flaw is that he is excessively jealous.
This Hamartia is what makes this play a tragedy and what drives the action of the
play, allowing Othello to be manipulated and eventually destroyed by Iago. The other
main character who is affected by Othello’s flaw is his innocent wife, Desdemona,
who he murders in an envious rage.
“loved not wisely, but too well”
Thus despite his cruel actions we sympathise with Othello. We can attribute Othello’s
misplaced trust in Iago to his generous nature and we can also understand his jealousy
as evidence of his affection for his wife. Jealousy is felt by all of us at some stage and
Othello’s jealousy is so extreme because he loves Desdemona so much. The play is
truly tragic because Othello’s Hamartia of jealousy is excusable as he desperately tries
to protect the love that he has won so dearly and Othello destroys Desdemona out of a
twisted, chaotic sense of justice.