The Tragedy of Othello
analytical Essay
1286 words
William Shakespeare masterfully crafted Othello, the Moor of Venice as an Aristotelian tragedy play. The main protagonist of the play, Othello, is the perfect example of a tragic hero. Shakespeare was influenced by Aristotle’s concept of a tragic hero and used Aristotle’s principles to create Othello. William Shakespeare attempted to create an Aristotelian tragedy play with a tragic hero and succeeded in Othello, the Moor of Venice by weaving in pity and fear into each line and action. The power of pity and fear creates the upmost tragic situation and follows in accordance of Aristotle’s definition of tragedy. Othello makes the ultimate act as a tragic hero by killing himself at the end of the play. “Othello, more than any play in the canon, has a fascinating and contentious performance and reception history,”
Aristotle constructs the definition of a tragedy and a tragic hero in the fourth century B.C. He defined tragedy with a well stated sentence which he said:
Tragedy is an imitation of an action of high importance, complete and of some amplitude; in language enhanced by distinct and varying beauties; acted not narrated; by means of pity and fear effecting its purgation of these emotions.
Aristotle sees tragedy of being made of pity and fear. When tragedies occur in people’s lives it appears fear and pity is always an accompanying trait. Aristotle finds these two emotions to be staples in creating the perfect tragedy play. A tragic hero is the direct spawn of creating a tragic play.
Aristotle’s tragic hero is made up of three requirements. The protagonist of the play must be a person of high estate. This allows the protagonist to fall from power or happiness to create a tragedy. The next requirement is the protagonist mus...
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Golden, Leon, “Othello, Hamlet, and Aristotelian Tragedy” Folger Shakespeare Library in association with George Washington University, http://www.jstor.org/stable/2869923.
Kennedy, X. J., and Dana Gioia. Literature: an introduction to fiction, poetry, drama, and writing. 7th compact ed. /Interactive ed. Boston, Mass.: Pearson, 2012.
Phillips, Adam. 2011. "Othello on Satisfaction." Raritan 31, no. 1: 50-69. America: History and Life with Full Text, EBSCOhost.
Reeves, Charles H., “The Aristotelian Concept of the Tragic Hero,” The American Journal of Philology , Vol. 73, No. 2 (1952), The Johns Hopkins University Press, http://www.jstor.org/stable/291812.
Seeff, Adele. "Othello at the Market Theatre." Shakespeare Bulletin 27.3, 2009, Academic OneFile.
Shakespeare, William, Othello, the Moor of Venice, “First Folio,” Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1621.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how shakespeare crafted othello, the moor of venice as an aristotelian tragedy play with a tragic hero by weaving in pity and fear into each line and action.
- Explains aristotle's definition of tragedy and a tragic hero in the fourth century b.c.
- Explains that aristotle's tragic hero is made up of three requirements: the protagonist must be of high estate and have a tragic flaw.
- Analyzes how othello is a highly respected soldier for the venice army. his tragic fall is that he is too trusting and is quick to be jealous. he feels like an outsider in venice due to his race.
- Explains that aristotle's first requirement was for the protagonist to be of high estate. however, othello is a highly respected general.
- Analyzes how othello has many fatal flaws, also called hamartia. first and foremost, he is too trusting, which leads to him being manipulated by the antagonist, iago.
- Analyzes how othello, the moor of venice, calls himself an "indian" before he stabs himself. he says iudean or judean which means infidel or disbeliever.
- Analyzes how othello trusts too easily as his thrust for knowledge overrides any doubts. he desperately wanted to find out if desdemona was having an affair and gullibly accepted what he thought was the truth.
- Analyzes how the combination of othello's flaws weaves together the web of pity and fear — his issues of trust and jealousy make him a weak man for iago to manipulate.
- Analyzes how charles h. reeves talks about how a tragic hero must be good in his article, "the aristotelian concept of the tragic hero."
- Analyzes how shakespeare modeled othello, the moor of venice after aristotelian tragedy plays. pity and fear are two profound traits of shakespeare's play.
- Analyzes how golden's "othello, hamlet, and aristotelian tragedy" evokes profound emotions of pity and fear and leaves us with a feeling which i would call tragic optimism.
- Analyzes how shakespeare created an aristotelian tragedy play with a tragic hero and succeeded in othello, the moor of venice by weaving in pity and fear into each line and action.
- Describes the works of aristotle, poetics, belfiore, elizabeth, and leon golden.
- Describes kennedy, x. j., gioia, and phillips, adam. "othello on satisfaction." raritan 31, no. 1: 50-69.
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- Tragic Hero in Othello by William Shakespeareanalytical essay... ultimately recognizes the goodness of Desdemona. The play’s antagonist, Iago, is finally put to shame as the terrible person that he was, and the power of evil was revealed. In the last act the guards took him away to be executed and he was put to death. Othello’s character is shown at the end when he commits suicide due to the enormous amount of regret and pain that he experienced. His love for Desdemona and the outcome of the play was truly tragic. He realized his faults and as a result, no longer wanted to remain living. In conclusion, Othello the Moor is a tragic hero due to his self-centered nature and his innocence. He allowed himself to be controlled by someone instead of trusting his heart in the process. Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero is embraced through the character of Othello, the moor, and the play is indeed considered an Aristotelian tragedy.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how shakespeare's othello, the moor of venice, portrays a tragic hero who possesses the qualities from aristotle’s definition.
- Analyzes how aristotle believes tragic heroes acquire character of noble status and greatness. othello is one of shakespeare's great leaders.
- Analyzes how othello, a moor, is in love with desdemona, who is brabantio's daughter. he is perceived as an outsider due to his skin color, religious views, and age.
- Analyzes how othello exhibits the nobility and leadership roles commonly associated with a tragic hero by aristotle's terms, but also acquires less commendable characteristics that contribute to his tragic flaws.
- Analyzes how aristotle's definition of a tragic hero incorporates the idea that misfortune is not entirely deserved, and that the penalty he receives surpasses his crime.
- Analyzes how shakespeare's othello is a tragic hero due to his self-centered nature and innocence.
1247 wordsRead More - Oedipusanalytical essayAristotle’s definition: The definition of a tragic hero is fairly self-explanatory, however, Aristotle’s definition of the term is the best description. He writes that a tragic hero is a literary character who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw that, combined with fate and external forces, brings on tragedy. When referring to the play, Oedipus the King, many people question whether Oedipus should have the title of a tragic hero based on the events that take place in the play. When deciding if this label is true, we must look into some of the significant elements that make up the character of a tragic hero.
In this essay, the author
- Explains aristotle's definition of a tragic hero, which includes hamartia and peripetea, self-awareness, pity for the character, and noble birth.
- Explains that aristotle's definition of a tragic hero is self-explanatory, but his definition is the best description.
- Describes the five main characteristics of a tragic hero and explains that they will be focusing on the foundations of the story.
- Explains that hamartia is the fatal flaw leading to the tragic downfall of a hero and is common in most greek tragedy plays.
- Analyzes how oedipus' major flaw is that he didn't know the identity of those who murdered laios. he was trying to save the land of thebes by announcing this punishment.
- Explains the second element that makes a tragic hero stand out from the other characters is the occurrence of peripeteia.
- Analyzes how oedipus had many blessings in his life, such as the power of being king, his wife, their children, and the kingdom he reigned over. when the truth was exposed, everything was taken from him.
- Explains that oedipus was given a prophecy when he was first born that frightened his parents into abandoning him.
- Analyzes how oedipus uncovered the truth about his past while trying to save his kingdom and relieve the sickness from his people. he realized his feelings, motives, and true desires.
- Explains that for the main character to become a tragic hero, it is common for them to come from noble birth. oedipus was born to queen jocasta and king laios, but given to the shepherd for fear that the prophecy would come true.
- Explains that oedipus fled corinth because of the prophecy bestowed upon him when he was first born, fearing accidental harm to his mother and father.
- Analyzes how oedipus' unintentional actions caused the character to experience an intense tragedy. he lost everything he loved in one day and the audience can't help but have feelings of remorse for him.
- Opines that oedipus' goal was to save the people of thebes from their distress, but the only solution to the horrible events that took place was banish himself.
- Describes the works of kennedy, x. j., and dana gioia in literature: an introduction to fiction, poetry, drama and writing.
771 wordsRead More - Othello As A Tragic Hero Essayanalytical essayWhen one hears the word tragedy, one can assume that the human emotions are responsible for the collapse of an individual. To the Greek philosopher Aristotle, however, a tragedy is “an imitation of an action of high importance…in language enhanced by distinct and varying beauties…[or] by means of pity and fear effecting its purgation of these emotions” (Kennedy & Gioia, 945). He defined a tragic hero as having three common characteristics: hamartia, or the tragic flaw in the character which coupled with hubris (pride which results in overconfidence) causes his downfall and demise; katharsis, the purgation of the audience’s emotions, which causes the audience to feel “not depressed, but somehow elated”; and anagnorisis, or the recognition of some fact not previously realized by the true identity of the main character (Kennedy & Gioia, 946). Therefore, as defined by Aristotle’s concept of tragedy, William Shakespeare’s Othello could be classified as a tragic hero. Shakespeare’s play includes jealousy and intrigue, which intertwined with pride and suspense create the finest of Aristotelian tragedies. Othello complies with the requirements for a tragic hero as Aristotle began with the premise that the hero must be of “high estate,” as if he were the member of a royal family; however, he yet falls from a hierarchy of power to one of abashment. He has married the daughter of a Venetian nobleman. He starts out well, but his end is one of drama. Moreover, Shakespeare’s plot develops as Othello’s katharsis is revealed through the climax and conclusion of the play, while the anagnorisis with the recognition that Iago was a traitor and Desdemona his innocent victim.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how aristotle defined a tragic hero as having three common characteristics: hamartia, katharsis, and anagnorisis.
- Analyzes how othello complies with all the requirements of a tragic hero as defined by aristotle. the hamartia is an irrevocable mistake which causes pain, shame, guilt, and ultimately condemnation.
- Analyzes how othello accepts the satanic iago's lies as honesty and desdemona’s truths as dissimulation and dishonesty.
- Explains that katharsis is a purgation of emotions, which leaves the audience feeling elated.
- Analyzes how shakespeare creates in the spectator a sort of melancholy for othello, his wife, and in an inexplicable, yet justifiable way, for iago. the katharsis refines the emotions and feelings of the audience into something that is exalted, albeit justified.
- Analyzes how othello's epiphany comes about at the end of the play when he realizes that iago has manipulated his emotions and deceived him into believing that his wife is unfaithful.
- Explains that aristotle explained that there are three characteristics of a tragic hero: hamartia, katharsis, and anagnorisis. shakespeare's tragedy has been consolidated as an english classic because of its themes of human characteristics.
1367 wordsRead More - Othelloanalytical essayOthello’s stature as a tragic hero is severely compromised by the speed and ease with which he turns against his wife, and by his failure to achieve any real self knowledge. In the Shakespearian tragedy of Othello, we witness the character of Othello fall from a position of control in Venetian society due to a combination of different reasons. Othello has a deep self-love for himself, and it is because of this he turns against his wife Desdemona with a great speed and ease. A traditional ‘tragic hero’ portrays four major characteristics: firstly, the tragic hero is a figure of high standing/esteem in the community; secondly, there is an agency that leads to the fall of the hero whether within the hero himself or from an outside figure/source; the third characteristic is a moment of self-realisation or self-awareness and the last characteristic is that the fall of the hero results in death.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how othello's stature as a tragic hero is severely compromised by the alacrity with which he turns against his wife, and by his failure to achieve any real self knowledge.
- Analyzes othello's egocentric nature and alienation in society, which leads to his manipulation by iago.
- Analyzes how iago pours "pestilence" into othello's mind, creating ideas and images that his wife desdemona is unfaithful towards him.
- Analyzes how othello's stature as a tragic hero is compromised by his failure to achieve any real self-knowledge before he takes his life.
- Analyzes how othello's stature as a tragic hero is severely compromised by the speed and ease with which he turns against his wife desdemona.
- Analyzes how othello never accepts his tragic flaw as self-knowledge, nor does he accept responsibility for the death of his innocent wife desdemona. he is unable to see himself as a member of the venetian society.
1106 wordsRead More - A Survey of Tragedyanalytical essayA modern tragedy of today and a tragedy of ancient Greece are two very different concepts, but ironically, both are linked by many similarities. In “Poetics”, Aristotle defines and outlines tragedy for theatre in a way that displays his genius, but raises questions and creates controversy. Aristotle’s famous definition of tragedy states:
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how aristotle's "poetics" defines and outlines tragedy for theatre in a way that displays his genius, but raises questions and creates controversy.
- Analyzes how aristotle's meaning of "imitate" is to play out, as in acting, and with "magnitude" imply great importance or consequence.
- Opines that "poetics" provides a sound blueprint for constructing the story that will immerse an audience into an adventure. aristotle's fundamentals, which influence the characters, plot and language, have remained relevant through the ages.
- Analyzes how tragedy has evolved to the point where each man, woman or child is just as appropriate a character as nobility was in the ancient world. arthur miller wrote of this shift in culture in his 1949 essay titled "tragedy of the common man."
- Opines that the tragic feeling is evoked in us when we are in the presence of a character who is ready to lay down his life, if necessary, to secure one thing-his sense of personal dignity.
- Analyzes how arthur miller upheld his ideal in "death of a salesman", where the protagonist willie loman commits suicide.
- Analyzes how sophocles' characterization of the protagonist is in perfect compliance with the traits aristotle outlined in "poetics." in the first scene, the foundation is laid showing oedipus as a good and kind king.
- Analyzes how oedipus is a victim of his own destiny and despite doing everything right, there's nothing he could have done that would have changed his life.
- Compares oedipus the king and death of a salesman. both playwrights constructed their protagonists with goodness in their souls and several flaws, which humanizes the characters and endears them to the audience.
- Analyzes how willy was a salesman. he didn't put bolts to nuts, tell the law, or give medicine, but he was man way out there in the blue, riding on smile and shoeshine.
- Opines that aristotle's definition of tragedy is both enduring and accurate.
995 wordsRead More - William Shakespeare's Othelloanalytical essayThe character Othello is considered as the tragic hero in Shakespeare play. Othello is a moor and a general in Venetian army. Othello is experienced in battle and valued by the people. Since he is such a well-respected military leader, the people listened and cared about what he had to say. One instance of his high regard can be seen when one of the senators said, “Here comes Barbantio and the valiant Moor", (Act I scene 3). With Othello overcoming racist Venice and managing to gain this high status in the community, Aristotle’s first requirement for a tragic hero is fulfilled.
In this essay, the author
- Explains aristotle's definition of a traditional tragic hero in his poetics, stating that they must be of high status and admired by the community.
- Analyzes how othello is considered as the tragic hero in shakespeare's play. he is experienced in battle and valued by the people. his high regard can be seen when one of the senators said, "here comes barbantio and the valiant moor".
- Analyzes how othello's nobleness and admirable personality are best depicted when barbantio confronts him about secretly marrying his daughter, desdemona.
- Analyzes how othello's clear-headed, confident, and calm nature is put to the test when iago and rodrigo conspire against him.
- Analyzes how iago's insinuations of desdemona’s cheating lead to the arousal of jealousy in othello.
532 wordsRead More - The Tragic Hero in William Shakespeare´s Othelloanalytical essayTragic heroes tend to have very pre-determined paths; usually making the most virtuous of characters destined to suffer. The hamartia or ‘tragic flaw’ is the typical reason the hero falls. Shakespeare was noted to be one of the best writers of tragedies, one of his most prominent to be Othello. In Othello, we find a number of tragic flaws two including pride and ambition. In William Shakespeare’s play, Othello, pride and ambition are used to identify the outcomes for the main characters in the play when seeing the resolution of the play, perceiving those who survive and those who don’t, and considering each character’s role in the turn of events.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the hamartia or 'tragic flaw' is the typical reason the hero falls. shakespeare was noted to be one of the best writers of tragedies.
- Analyzes how pride and ambition are shown in othello and in iago, the villain.
- Analyzes how iago had the biggest role in the turn of events for othello.
- Analyzes how iago and othello killed desdemona and emilia. rodrigo died because he was bargaining with the devil.
- Analyzes how iago lives because he has the worst punishment of living with his sins, and cassio is the new governor of cyprus.
- Explains that pride and ambition help determine the outcome for all of the major characters and the tragic hero. pride can lead to suffering if one takes pride in the wrong things.
611 wordsRead More - Tragedy In Death Of A Salesmananalytical essayAristotle defines tragedy in his respected piece Poetics and many other forms of literature. Many tragic heroes such as Oedipus Rex and Romeo and Juliet fit well into this mold of a tragic hero as defined by Aristotle. For example, they were flawed but well intentioned and their lives ended in a catastrophic death. Those plays, and many others in the genre, had all the elements of a tragedy: plot, character, thought, diction, melody, and spectacle. They were fantastic displays of misery that aroused pity and fear in the audience.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how aristotle defines tragedy in his respected piece poetics and many other forms of literature. many tragic heroes like oedipus rex and romeo and juliet fit well into this mold of a tragic hero.
- Analyzes how arthur miller's character, willy loman, incites frustration, anger, and pity in the contemporary audience.
- Analyzes how willy loman's aspiration to become a salesman garners pity in the audience when he realizes the doom waiting for him.
- Argues that death of a salesman should fall under the genre of tragedy despite not having things such as melody and spectacle.
- Analyzes how death of salesman's plot is mundane and, it gets carried on the backs of incredibly complex and real characters.
- Explains that death of salesman is a modern tragedy that an audience can relate to. the characters are regular people with real struggles who end up as nothing more than little people in the big world.
1132 wordsRead More - Aristotle on Tragedy and Hecuba's Heroismanalytical essayTragic events can happen as a result of accidents, misunderstandings, or specific situations, hence, they relate little to others. However, tragedy is rooted in the order of our universe because it reveals hypothetical situations that can occur at any time or place. This feeling of uncertainty arouses feelings of pity and fear because we can imagine ourselves having to face tragedy. In Aristotle's Poetics, Aristotle defines tragedy as, “a representation of an action of serious stature and complete, having magnitude, in language made pleasing in distinct forms in its separate parts, imitating people acting and not using narration, accomplishing by means of pity and fear the cleansing of these states of feeling” (Aristotle, 26). A dramatic composition that captures the true essence of suffering and awakens our senses is one that Aristotle would call a tragedy worthy of our praise. He notes, “It is clear first that decent men ought not to be shown changing from good to bad fortune (since this is neither frightening nor pitiable but repellent) and people of bad character ought not to be shown changing from bad to good fortune (since this is the most untragic thing of all, for it has none of the things a tragedy needs, since it neither arouses love for humanity nor is it pitiable or frightening)” (Aristotle, 36).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that tragedy is rooted in the order of our universe because it reveals hypothetical situations that can occur at any time or place. aristotle defines tragedy as a representation of an action of serious stature and complete, in language made pleasing in distinct forms in its separate parts.
- Analyzes how polyxena shows true bravery and nobility, a source of hecuba's mental decline.
- Analyzes how hecuba presents us with a thought-provoking scene that supports aristotle's view of pity and fear.
- Analyzes how polymestor's betrayal of a friend adds to the heartache of hecuba. she calls to agamemnon, king of mycenae, asking for his help in her plan for vengeance.
- Analyzes how polyxena's sacrifice and the death of polymestor present two different sides of hecuba, the grieving mother and murderous vengeful woman.
- Analyzes how hecuba's change of character is due to her loss of everything she once had: her dignity, title, children, and humanity.
- Analyzes how tragedy speaks to the vulnerability of the world, and aristotle would have little time for hecuba. his downfall would be caused by her own hand, not the unfortunate circumstances of her time.
- Explains that aristotle believed tragedies refined moral understanding, he found it hard to value those in which the grief-stricken protagonist turns to immorality and there is nothing left but their misery
- Analyzes how aristotle intended to clarify who we should feel pity for and why, as well as, which unfortunate events are deserved and which are not.
- Analyzes how hecuba, the story of the reigning queen of troy, turned into a grief-stricken and vengeful slave, evokes feelings of loneliness and sadness.
- Opines that hecuba should give him some good advice and don't think him your enemy. he readily admits how much he owes, and is willing to honor his debt by saving his life.
1868 wordsRead More - Oedipus the King: A Tragic Heroanalytical essayA tragic hero, as defined by Aristotle, is a man who is great but also terribly flawed, who experiences misfortunes while still remaining admirable to the audience at the end of the play. One of Aristotle’s favorite works, Oedipus the King, a play by Sophocles, is a play that above all others, defines the meaning of what a true tragic hero really is. In the play, Oedipus the King, the story unfolds after Oedipus unintentionally kills his own father and goes on to marry his mother. The events of the play are tragic, but it is the way that Oedipus handles the tragedies that make him a tragic hero.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes aristotle's definition of a tragic hero, stating that oedipus the king defines the meaning of what he is.
- Analyzes how oedipus proves to be a great and courageous man because of his extreme intelligence and cleverness.
- Analyzes how the heart of the story unravels when oedipus apparently begins to suffer a reversal of fortunes.
- Analyzes how oedipus remains admirable to the audience at the end of the play. he takes full responsibility for his actions rather than fleeing the punishment he so rightly defined for the criminal.
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