Othello: Shakespeare’s Most Tragic PlayWilliam Shakespeare have written many plays. His most tragic play is Othello. Othello is also the name of the main character in the play, he is quite hard tounderstand. In order to have a better understanding of Othello’s character,examining his changes throughout the play, flaws and why he is considered atragic hero will give the reader an insight of his overall personality.
Othello changes many times throughout the course of the play. At thebeginning of the play Othello trusts Desdemona with everything, but throughoutthe play he loses confident in her because he listens to Iago’s suggestionsabout her. “‘Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it That he would sneakaway so guilty like, Seeing you come. ‘” (Shakespeare 105). He shows disrespectto Desdemona in front of other people. “‘Devil’ he strikes her I have notdeserved this.
‘” (141). Othello changes even more dramatically because of thepoison suggestions that Iago has given him. He goes out of control andeventually kills Desdemona thinking that she has did something wrong. Othello has many tragic flaws.
He is a really gullible person, forexample he was tricked by Iago; thinking that Desdemona was really having anaffair with Cassio. ” ‘ Did he confess it?'” (134). He trusts Iago too muchand totally relies on Iago therefore making him really vulnerable to Iago’sevilish schemes. Othello’s gullibility causes him to be jealous. He let’s hisjealousy take over, he looses control of himself and acts on his jealousemotions, he let’s his jealousy clutter his mind and good judgment.
“‘Damn her,lewd minx! O, damn her, damn her! Come go with me part. I will withdraw Tofurnish me with some swift means of death. For the fair devil. Now are the mylieutenant'” (122). Othello’s other flaw is his anger.
Othello acts upon hisanger and therefore ends up doing the things he regrets afterwards. “‘It is toolate. ‘ ‘O Lord, O Lord, Lord!’ he smothers her”(168). Therefore by examiningthose points Othello has many tragic flaws in him.
Othello is considered a tragic hero because he fights for the people inVenice in Cyprus. “‘The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for Cyprus. Othello, the fortitude of the place is best known to you. ” (70). He islooked upon as a hero by the Duke of Venice. The Duke praises Othello for hisabilities and accomplishments.
He is considered to be tragic because he hasfallen in to the trap of Iago. Also Othello ends up killing Desdemona and thencommits suicide for the wrongful slaying of his wife. “‘ I took by th’throatthe circumcised dog And smote him thus. ‘ He stabs himself” (180).
The moorkills himself because he takes responsibility for what he did, which makes himthe tragic hero. Othello is considered the most tragic Shakespeare play. Othello is acharacter of many possibilities. His character is quite intriguing, the changeshe goes through, the flaws among him and why he is considered a tragic herogives us a detailed explanation of Othello as an overall person.
