King Lear Described Himself as a Man "More sinned against than Sinning." In your opinion, could this be true of Othello?
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Introduction
King Lear Described Himself as a Man "More sinned against than Sinning." In your opinion, could this be true of Othello? In the tragedy Othello, we see Othello change many times and go through many different charcacters. The changes can be noted as Othello becomes more involved in Iago's plans and schemes. He is introduced as a tragic hero whose stories of travel and being World wide bring him and Desdemona together, she loved him for his tales, he loved her because she listened. "And bade me, if I had a friend what loved her I should teach him how to tell my story And that would woo her" Othello is a victim to many throughout the play. He is victim to racism from many people, even Desdemona refers to him as "the Moor." Othello falls mainly victim to Iago. Iago always knew what he was doing, it is known that Iago's aim throughout the play was to transform the way people viewed Othello. Iago is, in fact, behind every one of Othello's problems. We can see that Iago's every more has the purpose of bringing about Othello's downfall. ...read more.
Middle
Othello is seen as a victim as he has remorse and is sorry for what he has done at the end of the play, once the status quo has been reinstated and the tragedy unfolded. He recaptures his lost faith and he knows his actions are unforgivable, "roast me in sulpur." He realizes he had changed as he says "he that was Othello" when he is referning to the murdering of Desdemona. He wants to be remembered as the noble warrior Othello, who served the state and whose fault was loving too much, and who was na�ve in love; "Then you must speak. Of one that loved not wisely, but too well. Of one not easily jealous." It is in his final speech we feel sorry for the once hero. It is mirrored and highlighted by Iago's unwillingness to admit his wrongs and to aid the others. He speaks in prose as he ofthen does when he is wrong or showing an evil side to him or plan. "Demand me nothing. What you know, you know. From this time forth I will never speak word." ...read more.
Conclusion
The play can tell us about how Shakespear viewed tragedy and tragic hero. The tragedy is about the downfall of one person, of noble birth. It depicts the most troubled part of his life. It ends with the death of the hero and is the story of their suffering in contrast to their previos happiness. The tragedy cannot just happen, but is always started by another man. In this case, Iago. The hero also contributes to his own downfall. Othello's tragic flaw is jealousy and being too trusting. It is key in a tragedy that one feels sympathy for the hero at the end, otherwise Shakespeare has not succeeded in reinstating the hero's status. The focus of the play is the struggle within the heor, shown through actions and in soliloquys. The play must leave the reader with the feeling that a great man has been lost. Othello contributed to his own downfall, but it was all instigated by evil Iago. He used othello's trusting nature for his own means. It is Iago's fault do many lives were lost and that Othello felt the need to sacrifice Desdemona. Therefore, I think Othello was more sinned against than sinning and it was Iago who sinned against him most. Samantha Margetts English Literature 1 Ms. Sergeant ...read more.
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