Othello: The Tragic Hero.

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Nazir Savji

Mrs. McLean

ENG 4U

July 16, 2003

Othello: The Tragic Hero

        In all tragic plays, there exists a tragic hero.  Though he may die in the end, he is still known to the play as the “hero”.  In William Shakespeare’s Othello, the central character, Othello, can be seen as the archetypal tragic hero. All classical, Shakespearean tragic heroes follow the same criteria.  At the outset, since tragedy involves the "fall" of a tragic hero, the character must have a lofty position to fall from, or else there is no tragedy, just pathos.  Subsequently, through a series of influences or actions, the tragic hero must undergo a change of fortune and fall from high to low estate.  Finally, this fall from high to low standing must emerge on the account of his tragic flaw, also known as hamartia, Therefore, using these criteria, we can easily classify Othello, the Moor, as a tragic hero.

        First off, a tragic hero must be a person of noble stature from which they can fall from.  In the beginning of the play, Shakespeare illustrates Othello as a benevolent military noble who shares an intellectual love with his young wife, Desdemona, which is of utmost purity and innocence.  His importance to state of Venice is exemplified when Cassio arrives to tell Iago and him that the Duke is looking for Othello.  Cassio states:

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        … And many of the consuls, raised and met,

        Are at the Duke’s already.  You have been hotly called for.

        When, being not at your lodging to be found,

        The Senate hath sent about three several quests

        To search you out (I. ii. 42)

For a dignified duke to call upon Othello in the middle of the night and send three requests for his presence shows the value of Othello to Venice.  Furthermore, during Act 1, Scene 3, the Duke and a few Senators are discussing issues around a table when Othello enters the room.  As he enters, one of ...

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