I am now going to weigh this against the case that Othello is a character displaying all the classic traits of a tragic hero

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Mohammed Ishfaq

Is Othello a Tragic Play?

Othello is a character displaying all the classic traits of a tragic hero. Linguistically he is eloquent in style;

"Rude am I in my speech and little blessed with the soft phrase of speech" (1.3.82-3).

This also implies his modest side although he generally acts as an epic hero as opposed to a Christian leader and this too is reflected in his highly courageous and endearingly care-free speech:

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"he that stir next, to carve for his own rage, holds his soul light: he dies upon his motion" (2.3.169-170).

His peers also recognize him as heroic; Montano calls him

'brave Othello' (2.1.37) and a 'worthy governor' (2.1.30). This case relies on the assumption of Iago's completely evil nature and indeed he is generally scene as one of Shakespeare's most despicable characters. He has a multitude of motives. Resentment and jealously of Cassio's promotion: he wishes 'to get his place'- (1.3.391-2) and once demoted says, 'how do you now, lieutenant?’ 

Hatred of Othello: 'doth like a poisonous ...

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