Othello’s charisma is echoed in the way he influences other characters. For most people during Jacobean times, black people were seen as barbaric and savage, but Othello shows the opposite of this for the majority of the play. He is recognised by the other characters as a great man, and the duke calls him ‘valiant Othello’ (Act 1, Scene 3, Line 48) when supporting him during an argument over Desdemona and her relationship with Othello. This goes against the predicted opinion that the duke would think of Othello in a bad light. Cassio's loyalty to him shows that Othello is well liked by his soldiers. When Cassio feels he has lost Othello's respect, he is broken-hearted.
However it is obvious that there is a race distinction between Othello and the other characters, and the constant referral of Othello as ‘the Moor’, or Iago’s racist comments about the ‘black ram’ and the ‘white ewe’ back up this point. Despite his strength and pride, he is never completely at home, and is constantly aware that others consider him a foreigner and an impostor. The setting of Venice also has a bearing on the play itself. We are given the impression that Venice is a city of law and order, where goodness is all around, and Othello resonates this goodness through his kindness and loving qualities. However, underneath this image of a peaceful city is a corrupt and barbaric society like the society Othello has probably come from. He hasn’t really changed his surroundings, but his attitude towards other people, especially Iago, has change immensely. He is naïve to the truth, and would prefer to carry on living his dream – general of the Venetian army.
His charisma is most clearly shown in his rich and loaded language. He speaks with such passion with phrases like ‘vapour of a dungeon’ (Act 3, Scene 3, Line 273) and ‘o that the slave had forty thousand lives!’ (Act 3, Scene 3, Line 443), that at times it makes him come over arrogant because of his linguistic abilities and self-dramatisation. The stories he tells Desdemona are memorable and impressive. As Othello retells the story of his courtship in the Senate office, the Duke is so taken in that he understands how Brabantio’s daughter was won by such stories. Othello seems to have the ability to transform the truth of his stories into poetry. However this rich imagination has a handicap: it makes Othello vulnerable to Iago's trickery. Othello's imagination runs wild with Iago's invented details and ‘proofs’, and Othello constantly focuses on the physical side of Cassio and Desdemona’s supposed relationship.
Unlike other Shakespearean tragic heroes, Othello is not a prince or a king, although he is descended from "men of royal siege". He has been a military man most of his life and his heroic victories in battle have found him success both in life and in love. He is seen as a professional soldier, a fine and courageous one, but still a hired general. I think that by placing him closer to the common people, such as Emilia, Bianca and Iago, Shakespeare makes Othello easier to identify with. His story could be our story, and his faults our faults. His rise though the ranks have meant Othello has had a complete change of lifestyle. As mentioned before the audience would have preconceptions that Othello is barbaric, and his history suggests that he has had a violent background. This has meant Othello has had to change his religion from Muslim to Christianity just so he can be accepted in Venetian society. This dedication to his the Venetian army (whom he has been called into as a mercenary) shows a great heroic quality.
Othello's good qualities easily outweigh the bad. We know he's powerful, brave, and authoritative; this is shown by the respect given to him by the senate. He's also gentle and romantic. The early scenes with his wife show him full of love and devotion and he refers to his wife as his ‘fair warrior’ (Act 2, Scene 1, Line 174) because she has battled against her father’s wishes to be with hi,. Othello’s devout love for Desdemona is shown in his own self-sacrifice for her at the end of the play. Some people may say this is just Othello making a rash decision and taking the easy way out. On the other hand I believe that there is a special kind of love that exists between Othello and Desdemona, and he is so deeply engrossed by her that being apart from her is impossible. He has nothing to live for after Desdemona has died, so suicide seems the only option. I respect this for the bravery shown here. When Othello is in the bedroom, planning the murder of Desdemona, he has to repeat ‘it is the cause’ (Act 5, Scene 2, Line 1) several times because he believes his immense love for Desdemona may prevail and stop him killing Desdemona for the good of men.
Othello obviously goes through an immense amount of anguish and suffering because of Iago foul tricks. The audience cannot help but sympathise with Othello, and this pity that is produced shows how Othello has become a ‘tragic’ hero.
The timing of the play’s scenes also contributes to the downfall of Othello and makes him more of a tragic hero. Although the structure of the play is in itself a creation of Shakespeare, it doesn’t seem unnatural but actually very believable and realistic. An example of how timing has an effect on the tragedy of Othello would be the implications of the ‘Willow scene’. When Desdemona tells Emilia that she does not ‘think there is any such woman’ who could cheat on a partner, we see her innocence both in her views on life as a whole, and on adultery. If Othello had been in the room at the same time as Desdemona and Emilia’s conversation, then it is possible that Desdemona and Othello’s death would not have occurred, and justice would have prevailed.
There are also qualities about Othello that have a good side and a bad side. One of these is his open and trusting nature. Othello believes that others are honest and sincere until he has proof that they're not. This openhearted love of his fellow man makes Othello an attractive and generous friend and adds to his heroic qualities. But it also leaves him susceptible to Iago's scheming; Iago knows his plan will work because Othello trusts him and has no reason to suspect that his loyal lieutenant would scheme against him. Othello’s confidence is fragile, which is one of his tragic traits.
In conclusion Othello throughout the play shows that he is the typical tragic hero. He is charismatic because he inspires emotions and enthusiasm in his language, actions and manner. He has a long military history that gives him the status he has in the law abiding, Christian society of Venice. He is made tragic by the repercussions of Iago’s scheming, as well as his fragile conscience that jumps to conclusions, and the pity this invokes.
