Othello as a tragic hero
A tragic hero is a person who initially is well-respected and holds a high
esteem within society. They are of high moral worth and are highly ambitious
in what they set out to achieve. A single mistake or character flaw can,
however, bring them to ruin, with a loss of everything that they possess. In the
discussion of whether Othello fits the role of a tragic hero, the following
concepts need to be considered. Firstly, as befitting a tragic hero, Othello
holds an important role. He is well-respected and admired by all. Secondly,
through a character flaw and the added complication of external forces
working against him, he suffers a dramatic fall from grace. He loses all that he
held dear- his wife, his status, his position, and the respect held by others of
him. Finally, despite his actions, there is a lesson to be learnt and the
audience are compelled to maintain some feeling of sympathy towards him.
The sympathy of the audience towards Othello's character is largely due to
his lack of understanding of the unforseen evils in the world around him.
These evils are personified by Iago. Othello's nobility, morals, values/ideals,
all play a part in the unravelling of his personality.
Iago whose equivocal but evil deception/manipulation of Othello's emotions
presents the audience with a strong-willed but fragile character. Othello
appears ill-equipped to understand a character such as Iago, and this gains
the audiences sympathy. If we are to accept that a tragic hero is one that
possesses the image of valour, nobility and honour, but in weakness
cannot contain the manipulation of those mannerisms, then in the end we
must come to the conclusion that he is indeed a tragic hero.
Othello was blinded towards Iago's manipulating words and believes his false
accusations of Desdemona’s adultery with Cassio. Othello's blindness is
clearly illustrated in the following quote:
(Act 5, Scene 2- line 153) " ...My friend thy husband; honest, honest Iago....."
Even those around Othello such as Emilia were able to see Iago's lies, that
Othello could not see. This is evident in the following quote:
(Act 5, Scene 2- line 186) "You told a lie, an odious damned lie Upon my soul,
a lie, a wicked lie. She false with Cassio? Did you say with Cassio?"
Othello took the love that he had for Desdemona for granted because he
trusted one of his men (Iago) more than his own beloved wife.
(Act 5, Scene 2- line 133) " She's like a liar gone to burning hell, t'was i that
kill'd her"
By killing Desdemona, whom he loved, Othello certainly loses some of the
sympathy of the audience and we find it difficult to recognise such actions as
heroic.
To be a tragic hero, the hero /character must be considered worthy, and he
must hold a position of authority and respect. The tragedy takes place when
he falls from this position. Through the text, it is clear Othello was revered as
a man who was a worthy soldier and highly respected. The Duke calls him
"the Valiant Othello" and one of the senators refer to him as "the brave moor".
It can also be seen that the men under his command hold him in high esteem,
with Cassio referring to him as "Our Great Captain". In the end the view of
Othello is very different, due to his tragic flaw of jealousy and pride, Othello
was addressed as a viper by Lodovico, and was thought to be cowardly.
"Oh then Othello, that were't once so good, and fallen in the practice of a
damn slave".
The way he was referred to before his fall, and then after, shows that he was
once of noble birth, but then fell. This unfortunate fall meant that Othello
himself has lost his high position, and respect from his men, and even the
people who commands him. Othello had fallen so far that a man that he had
previously commanded was the man who took that authority away.
"That's he that was Othello: here i am where is the viper? Bring the villain
forth".
Othello's loss of respect can be seen by Desdemona's pleading with him,
while she lay on the bed just as her beloved husband is about to kill her.
"And yet i fear you, for you are fatal then".
She has lost all the respect that she once held for him, and now no longer
trusts him, but fears him. These points display that Othello has fulfilled a
requirement of a tragic hero.
The personal problems of Othello overwhelmed him and so became one of
the causes of his blindness. Othello is oblivious to the fact that Iago is taking
advantage of his fatal flaw of jealousy.
"Oh beware jealousy: it is the green-eyed which doth mock that which meet it,
feed on. The cuckold lies in bliss".
This quote from Iago proves that he knows Othello more than Othello knows
himself, and so, takes advantage of his personal flaw, using it to his own,
deadly advantage