Rodrigo Zozaya
8-November-2010 Othello Essay
Is Othello's downfall a consequence of his own weakness or circumstances beyond his control?
Shakespearean tragedies are usually characterized for having the 'tragic hero' lead himself to his downfall because of his/her own weakness (hamartia). Othello or the moor (as many Venetians called him) is the tragic hero of this play; as he is the main character in the play and the one the ends up ruining his admirable life because of his own weaknesses. Othello has three main flaws that bring about his demise, these three 'vulnerabilities' are; Othello has poor judgment when it comes to making vital decisions in the play, he can't control his natural jealousness and is too trusting with the wrong people.
Othello is of strong character, he reasoned well at first and he analyzed his every move but throughout the play he starts loosing his reason and therefore his good, logical judgment. In Act 3 scene 3 Othello's says "Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore, be sure of it; give me the ocular proof" We can see Othello uses logical judgment and does not believe Iago's suggestions of adultery, he will not believe any of that until he sees some compelling evidence and visual proof supporting those claims, he also says "I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; And on the proof, there is no more" a good reasoning method. However, later on Othello starts getting his judgment clouded by Iago's subtle comments and planting of ideas. When he is told to eavesdrop on Cassio's conversation, as soon as the conversation ends he says, "How shall I murder him Iago?" This shows how Othello's judgment is completely lost by now, as he wrongly assumes Cassio is talking about Desdemona even though he never even mentions her name. He is so consumed by anger and is concentrated on revenge that he misjudges situations that at the beginning of the play would've never tricked him.
8-November-2010 Othello Essay
Is Othello's downfall a consequence of his own weakness or circumstances beyond his control?
Shakespearean tragedies are usually characterized for having the 'tragic hero' lead himself to his downfall because of his/her own weakness (hamartia). Othello or the moor (as many Venetians called him) is the tragic hero of this play; as he is the main character in the play and the one the ends up ruining his admirable life because of his own weaknesses. Othello has three main flaws that bring about his demise, these three 'vulnerabilities' are; Othello has poor judgment when it comes to making vital decisions in the play, he can't control his natural jealousness and is too trusting with the wrong people.
Othello is of strong character, he reasoned well at first and he analyzed his every move but throughout the play he starts loosing his reason and therefore his good, logical judgment. In Act 3 scene 3 Othello's says "Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore, be sure of it; give me the ocular proof" We can see Othello uses logical judgment and does not believe Iago's suggestions of adultery, he will not believe any of that until he sees some compelling evidence and visual proof supporting those claims, he also says "I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; And on the proof, there is no more" a good reasoning method. However, later on Othello starts getting his judgment clouded by Iago's subtle comments and planting of ideas. When he is told to eavesdrop on Cassio's conversation, as soon as the conversation ends he says, "How shall I murder him Iago?" This shows how Othello's judgment is completely lost by now, as he wrongly assumes Cassio is talking about Desdemona even though he never even mentions her name. He is so consumed by anger and is concentrated on revenge that he misjudges situations that at the beginning of the play would've never tricked him.
