Characteristics Of Othello Essay, Research Paper

When discussing the characteristics of Othello one finds he has more

than one side. Othello is a tragic hero in this drama. Also, he portrays a

man with much greatness. Consequently, Othello has many weaknesses.

In order to truly understand the character of Othello, one must understand

him as a tragic hero with both greatness and weakness.

A tragic hero is the main character in a play that takes a downfall or is

ruined during the play. Undoubtedly, Othello is ruined during the course of

this Shakespearean drama. In the beginning of the play his life is in order, as

he was married to the beautiful Desdemona, the younger daughter of a well

respected Senator, Brabantio. However, Othello was a Moor, and their

marriage was frowned upon. Iago had an evil plot to bring Othello down,

because he was in love with Desdemona when the Moor stole her heart.

Iago causes Othello to turn against his wife, and have jealous rages that

caused her much despair and grief. This is concurrent with the persona of a

tragic hero. In the end, Iago brings Othello down just as he planned. The

reader must realize that without his downfall, Othello couldn?t be considered

tragic, henceforth there would be no moral one could take from the play.

Othello is very characteristic of a tragic hero.

Othello is also a man that shows much greatness throughout the

drama. Throughout his adult life he has been acclaimed for his many

conquests throughout the land. He shows greatness through his love for

Desdemona. For instance, ?But that I love the gentle Desdemona, I would

not my unhoused free condition put into circumscription and confine for the

seas? worth,? Othello said when referring to his affection and true feelings

for Desdemona. Othello was very remarkable when discussing his love for

Desdemona.

Throughout the play Othello, its main character shows much

weakness. Much of this weakness channels from Iago, the villain of the

script. Othello himself addresses his own frailty when he describes himself

as ?an honorable murderer?; as ?one that loved not wisely but too well.?

Othello?s belief of Iago?s every statement grew critical when Iago accused

Desdemona of losing the handkerchief his mother gave him. Once again

Iago had won an intellectual battle with Othello. Subsequently, Iago

convinced Othello that Cassio, his devoted and loyal lieutenant, was stealing

his wife. Upon hearing this account from Iago, Othello immediately ordered

Cassio massacred. This also showed a lacking in his decision making

process. Othello?s weaknesses centered around Iago?s plot to bring him

down.

Without question, Othello is one of the more interesting and

multidimensional personas we have studied to date. Othello was a perfect

example of a tragic hero, he had an abundance of greatness, and he coupled

that with twice as much weakness. Othello was a great character in this

Shakespearean dramatic tragedy.