Leavis sees othello as a character that is full of flaws. This is seen in othellos inconsistent treatment of cassio, iago and desdemona. In othellos last speech in the play, he speaks of the dishonesty, remorse as well as of his lost love. As opposed to hamlets flaw which is not being light tempered and hasty. Othellos fatal flaw othello shows here that he has a very trusting character he from english 1 at national college of ireland. Discuss the fatal flaws in the characters of othello and. Shakespeares othello as a tragic hero schoolworkhelper. He convinces othello that cassio is sneaking around with othellos newly wedded wife, desdemona. Dec 03, 2001 iagos ambition, desdemonas love for othello, and emilias loyalty in iago and desdemona are also tragic flaws. First performed around 1604, the play is also a pioneering exploration of racial prejudice. It is iagos fault that the play ends in the way it does because of his manipulation of events and characters therefore he can be held accountable for othellos fall from grace. In othello iago nearly achieves his goals because of his unmatched ability to persuade and fabricate the truth, which leads to the death of sweet desdemona and eventually othello.
It may also be the heroes that are see in movies and books rescuing the. It is, however, the underhanded maneuvering of othellos friend, iago, that ultimately leads to tragedy. Part one, the exposition, outlines the situation, introduces the main characters, and begins the action. Othello s flaw in shakespeare s the tragedy of othello essays othello s flaw in shakespeare s the tragedy of othello in shakespeare. Othello can be seen as a tragic hero, as his flaws are the cause of his death. What is othellos tragic flaw that causes his downfall. Othellos tragic flaw conclusion act 5, scene 2, lines 288289 analysis the way he was referred to before his fall, and then after, shows that he was once of noble birth, but then fell. In othello iago nearly achieves his goals because of his unmatched ability to persuade and fabricate the truth, which leads to the death of sweet. Iago creates an alternate world filled with lies, that unfortunately consumes the trusting and naive othello.
This intrinsic characteristic is the basis for conflict and tragedy throughout the course of the play and is the. This caused suspicion which then led to othello falling straight into iagos trap. Othello summary book reports skip to primary navigation. Iago succeeds in his scheme, causing othello to eventually strangle and kill his honest wife. The story of an african general in the venetian army who is tricked into suspecting his wife of adultery, othello is a tragedy of sexual jealousy. Iago one michael cassio, a florentine, a fellow almost damned in a fair wife. Character analysis of iago from shakespeares othello. Shakespeare s other great tragedies hamlet, macbeth and king lear. William shakespeare s plays often had the downfall of a hero in it. This act shows and clarifies the tragic flaws within othellos character throughout the play.
He was a hypocrite who pretended to be othellos best friend when in reality he was scheming behind his back. He is also in no particular order selfish, disloyal, jealous, vengeful, paranoid, cynical, overconfident and unrepentant. Tragic flaws are composed of 100% hindsight by ears, he is weak, thats why he. Othellos tragic flaw is his gullible and naive nature. Essay on othellos flaw in shakespeares the tragedy of. How does othellos tragic flaw lead to his downfall. According to the great english essayist and scholar william hazlitt, the character of iago from william shakespeares masterpiece othello is one of the supererogations of shakespeares genius, due the fact that iagos villainy is without a sufficient motive 345. The tragic vulnerability of othello english literature essay.
It is often suggested that othellos fatal flaw is jealousy, but i would argue that this doesnt really strike at the heart of the matter. Othello s tragic flaw the extravagant language and literary techniques used in shakespeare s othello enhance the settings, characters, and themes. Othellos responsibility for desdemonas death essays cram. Othello a tragic hero with hamartia bachelorandmaster.
Yes, othello is jealous, but before iago suggests to him. Othellos words is the underlying statement that determined his feelings. Some scholars argue it is jealousy, and other scholars believe it is othellos lack of selfesteem. All of his characteristics made him a clear aristotelian tragic hero. Othellos tragic flaw of gullibility is exposed throughout the course of the play. He is an individual of high stature who is destroyed by his surroundings, his own actions, and his fate. Othello can be viewed as an unfortunate hero, as his flaws are the cause of his fatality. This unfortunate fall meant that othello himself has lost his high position, and respect from. Othellos tragic flaw of inherent trust haunts him throughout the play. In william shakespeare s othello, jealousy is a central theme and tragic flaw possessed by the main characters iago, othello, and roderigo.
The senators wish to send othello to cyprus, which is under threat from turkey. Many have argued that othello s tragic flaw is his jealousy, but that s really only the tip of the tragic iceberg to continue the analogy. Othello s tragic flaw conclusion act 5, scene 2, lines 288289 analysis the way he was referred to before his fall, and then after, shows that he was once of noble birth, but then fell. As opposed to hamlet s flaw which is not being light tempered and hasty. Othellos tragic flaws freebooksummary study guides and book. In act v scene ii, the final scene and crescendo of the play, we see othellos character truly unravel, falling into the depths of tragic heroism and despair. Tragic flaws are composed of 100% hindsight by ears, he is weak, that s why he. William shakespeares plays often had the downfall of a hero in it.
Something truly catastrophic was bound to happen sooner or later. I would argue that othellos tragic flaw is his jealousy because iagos deceitful mechanisms trigger perilous jealousy which consumes othello. Othello a tragic hero with hamartia othello, the protagonist of the tragedy, is a tragic figure because he is a man of great character and some virtues but brings about his own doom due to a tragic flaw. It is often suggested that othello s fatal flaw is jealousy, but i would argue that this doesnt really strike at the heart of the matter.
Othello, iago, desdemona, and emilia each display a tragic flaw. Othellos downfall was caused by a flaw in his nature that was exploited by iago and manipulated through many circumstantial events. Shakespeares subtle descriptions of the characters allow for varying interpretations of each character. Othellos fatal flaw othello shows here that he has a very. The great wheel of fire of ancient wisdom, silence and word engendering the myth of the origin, human action engendering the epic voyage toward the other. The torture scenes demonstrate the productions early flaws. Othello s tragic flaw of inherent trust haunts him throughout the play. Othello s tragic flaw for every shakespearean tragedy there is a grossly unfortunate sequence of events that eventually leads to a bloodbath. These tragic flaws are imperative to the play, and. He is senseless and blindly believes iago who manipulates him for his own benefit. Iago hinted at these ideas, and othello rushed to accept them, because they echoed his deepest fears and insecurities. Its this flaw that causes wash to get shot in the battle with the blues and reds, taking him and locus out of the equation and later giving him brain damage. Essay about othellos tragic flaws 983 words bartleby. Apr 07, 2016 iagos ambition, desdemonas love for othello, and emilias loyalty in iago and desdemona are also tragic flaws.
Looking at this, i agree with leavis regarding hamartia. Tragic flaws in othello william shakespeare creates dynamic and complex characters in his tragic play, othello. Shakespeare has been known to create terrific tales of love and tragedy. Othello was an admired general of a big and powerful doge of venices military. Shakespearean tragedy usually works on a fivepart structure, corresponding to the five acts. Many have argued that othellos tragic flaw is his jealousy, but thats really only the tip of the tragic iceberg to continue the analogy. Sep 18, 20 iagos ambition, desdemonas love for othello, and emilias loyalty in iago and desdemona are also tragic flaws. Passed over for promotion time and again, iago uses this opportunity to undermine othello s position within the king s army.
He is too proud, too trusting, too impulsive and extremely insecure despite his outward show of arrogance. Passed over for promotion time and again, iago uses this opportunity to undermine othellos position within the kings army. Iago crudely informs brabantio, desdemonas father, that othello and desdemona have eloped. The tragic flaw is the small character defect in the protagonist that, in most circumstances, wouldnt have been a big problem if not for said events.
Here is my copy of othello with the felty suspicious looking fox bookmark that karen made for my birthday. The tragic flaw of gullibility would lead his feelings to make bad judgments. The devastating flaws of othello the tragic flaw is the most. At the beginning of act 5, iago kills roderigo but he fails to dispose of the one man who can expose his plot as a mountain of lies. In othellos last speech in the play, he speaks of the betrayal, remorse and of his lost love.
Iagos evil nature is immediately evident he is a liar and a cheat who delights in inflicting pain and suffering on others. Othello tragic flaw has been the subject of much debate. Typically this stage is when the tragic hero gains awareness of reality. Othello is a tragic hero because of his noble traits, his tragic flaws, and his tragic. His fatal flaws of gullibility, jealousy and easily trusting people can be seen as the cause of his death and others around him. Othellos tragic flaw the extravagant language and literary techniques used in shakespeares othello enhance the settings, characters, and themes. Othellos inability to distinguish between truth and falseness, and to conceive that not everyone acts according to the same principles he does leads to many innocent characters suffering before iagos villainy is revealed.
What does othellos final speech reveal about his character flaws and nature in othello. Othellos blind trust of iago or his fervent jealously regarding desdemona could both be considered fatal flaws. His fatal flaws of innocence, jealousy as well as easily relying on individuals can be seen as the reason for his death as well as others around him. Everyone knew him for his strength and determination. Othello and macbeth are both represented with a number of flaws, which inspire their inevitable downfalls, which were created by shakespeare to highlight the many flaws of simple human nature. When we begin, cassio is one of othellos soldiers, recently appointed the generals secondincommand. The political disfunction that has brought about the shutdown and now threatens default, isnt so much gridlock.
Othello has promoted cassio, not iago, to be his lieutenant. It is exposing the fatal flaw in our constitution and highly distinct system of government. It is, however, the underhanded maneuvering of othello s friend, iago, that ultimately leads to tragedy. To what extent is othello responsible for his own downfall. In this scene we see at last the resultant action from iagos poison words, as othello murders desdemona and then takes his own life. The play, othello, is a twisted tale of deceit and revenge. Othello is the perfect example of mans tragic vulnerability and it is the events around him that cause his downfall. Othello, an intricate tragedy about good versus evil, loyalty, love, sexual jealousy, and appearance versus reality, is told in a first person point of view. Othello, for being such a hardened and vicious warrior on the battlefield, is lost when it comes to relationships and people. Othellos tragic flaws rodrigo diaz 514 william shakespeare wrote many plays in the 1600s, lots of them were tragedies.
Othello became incapable of thinking clearly and murdered his own wife in their bed. These tragic flaws are imperative to the play, and without them there would be a lack of plot, conflict, and climax. One could argue that othellos tragic flaw is his jealousy, which results in his terrible decision to murder desdemona at the end of the play. Because othello is black and desdemona white, there is a great deal of controversy surrounding their marriage. Up until this point, heshe has been fed lies or there is some huge truth that has been hidden up until this point. Othello s tragic flaws rodrigo diaz 514 william shakespeare wrote many plays in the 1600 s, lots of them were tragedies. This infuriates iagobecause he wanted to be lieutenant, and because cassio is a math not muscle guy so iago cannot understand this appointment. Othellos tragic flaw essaysaccording to the tradition of tragedy as stated by aristotle in his poetics, the tragic hero must not be an entirely good man, or one who is completely evil, but, rather, a man who on the whole is good but contributes to his own destruction by som. Othello by william shakespeare goodreads share book. He is also a victim of circumstances and a poor decision.
Iagos notquitefatal flaw is that he fails to see the threat she represents, even though she is the first person following othellos outburst to figure out whats really going on. This is why iago, to get his just rewards uses him as a scapegoat. Othello gains knowledge of his errors of judgment at the end of the play, but cannot reconcile the jealous, murderous. Iagos ambition, desdemonas love for othello, and emilias loyalty in iago and desdemona are also tragic flaws.
Othello is a play a tragedy in which the main theme it othellos jealousy and revenge and the main motives are racism, love, jealousy, betrayal and fraud. The other flaw, which was lack of confidence, is a huge factor in othellos come down. Before the venetian senate, brabantio accuses othello of bewitching desdemona. The tragic flaws can truly alter perspectives as the story transitions. Essay provides a discussion of the character flaws of othello. Othello would have done well to be a little less trustworthy. Read a character analysis of othello, plot summary, and important quotes. Navigating destructive relationships with people with disorders of personality and character is a compelling volume that provides the essential information and a realistic sense of the clinical experience required to inform, orient, and support novice mental health professionals and seasoned practitioners alike as they face the. Shakespeares tragedy cliffsnotes study guides book. The sad truth in society shines brightly in the play by william shakespeare, othello. Othello and his tragic flaw essay example for students.
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