Essay on Othello Chose His Fate - 794 Words

The play Othello the Moor of Venice, is one of Shakespeares great tragedies. That being so, for every tragedy, there is the tragic hero- a man that is, at bottom, truly honorable and good, but plagued by a flaw that causes his fateful undoing. The question then arises whether there is sufficient evidence to all-together condemn Othello as a malevolent and innately evil man, or such evidence that he was simply deceived by Iagos treachery and should be excused for his actions. Yet, as the play unfolds, it is clear that no such solid line can be drawn. That is, we are given evidence that rather suggests that Othellos dynamic role as the tragic hero manipulates the very virtue of his greatness to his demise. It is Othellos passion, the†¦show more content†¦Desdemonas own account provides further evidence of Othellos innocence. She recounts: My hearts subdued even to the very quality of my lord. I saw Othellos visage in his mind, and to his honors and his valiant parts did I my s oul and fortunes consecrate (I.III.251-255). Another of Othellos qualities, one that makes him susceptible to Iagos trickery, is that of his naivety. Iago recognizes this saying: The Moor is of a free and open nature that thinks men honest (I.III.399-400). It is upon this quality that Iago begins to play Othello. At the onset of the play, Iago is presented as a cunning snake in the grass, the antagonist of the play, and a catalyst that sets Othello into a downward spiral of jealousy, suspicion, rage, and violence- respectively. Angered that Othello appointed Cassio, and not himself as lieutenant, Iago seeks vengeance. An evil and truly deceitful man, Iagos hatred of Othello is masked behind false rhetoric and manipulation, but vividly clear to the audience. While it seems to nearly everyone that Iago is Othellos loyal servant, Iago only serves his own agenda: I follow him to serve my turn upon him. We cannot all be masters, nor all masters cannot be truly followed (I.I.42-44). Thus Iago begins to spin his web of deceit, using anyone that he so chooses as his pawn. Most instrumental inShow MoreRelated Is Falling Failure or Freedom? Essay1279 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Paradise Lost† and â€Å"Othello† both have parallels in the reasons and methods in which revenge was carried ou t and perfection was destroyed. But these stories end with different victors and very different balances of power. The fall of â€Å"Paradise Lost† does have motives and patterns common with the fall of â€Å"Othello.† Each story establishes the authority of a Supreme Being, God the creator and Othello respectively. God the creator made everything that exists, and had control over his creation, which happensRead MoreOthello: Characters Bring About Their Own Demise. Essay1148 Words   |  5 Pagesof William Shakespeare, the tragic hero always runs into misfortune. The play Othello is no exception. 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The theme of jealousy helps propel the plot naturally and demonstrates the consequences of being morbidly jealous. The circumstantial evidence Iago provides acts like a lethal poison, which surrounds Othello in suspicion and env y but also turns him into an inhuman murderer. Jealousy is the ‘monster’ thatRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Othello - The Moor Of Venice1513 Words   |  7 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s tragic play: â€Å"Othello: the Moor of Venice† starts out in the place of love and water, the beautiful Venice, Italy. In this play Shakespeare brings to life the true definitions of love, betrayal, jealousy, and revenge. Iago and Roderigo, two characters in the play, that are plotting against the general of the Venetian Army because Iago was not chosen to be the lieutenant. Instead Othello chose Cassio. 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Commitment has been a word that can be tossed around in relationships, with the vulnerable ring to it; that pursuit of something better can feel lost in even the most stable relationships. We find that Othello and Desdemona are not lovers. Desdemona is a bare projection for Othello s own inability to develop self-esteemRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Othello As A Tragic Hero1322 Words   |  6 Pagesof have to be Othello. Shakespeare wrote Othello on 1603. Nineteen years passed before Othello was first put into print in 1622 by Thomas Walkley. Othello is a tragic hero because of his noble stature, his tragic flaws, and his unfortunate downfall. Othello is a military general who is respected by the government and most of the people in his Italian community and had remarkable morals. Othello is very wealthy and is of high status. 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