+ Class Works: Othello +

This is an essay written...I want to say my Junior year of high school. The requirement was to explain whether or not Othello is a tragic hero, and if the play should be considered a tragedy, using only one page to do so. Brace yourself, it's pretty subpar.

Othello’s Tragic Downfall

William Shakespeare’s Othello is a tragedy in accordance to the elements of a tragedy. Othello is noble showing quite a bit of passion throughout the play. He’s a good person, but can easily sway into other ways of thinking. Iago merely mentions he hunches Desdemona could possibly be unfaithful to him with Cassio, and he believes it not questions asked (III.iii.228-229).

Othello’s faults come from his jealousy which links into his act of injustice. He’s unjustly fooled into believing Desdemona, is cheating on him with his lieutenant. Everything that evolved from that was all a misunderstanding, which could have easily been avoided and prevented all together. Iago talks about how he is going to set it all up, he’s going to poison Othello into believing Cassio is with his wife (I.iii.438-439). And because of the jealousy which has such opportunity to blossom he ends up being the downfall of himself (V. ii. 346-347).

Though Othello was pushed slightly to this tragedy, it was all his own decision. He didn’t have to kill his wife, or believe Iago, he chose to. This only gives more evidence of how it could have been diverted if there were communication.

He traps himself, and thus two innocent lives end with bloodshed all for jealousy’s sake. Unfortunately he finds that she never once was unfaithful. Emilia made clear that Desdemona was faithful to the end (V. ii. 299-300).

Othello helps show people how horrid jealousy is and no matter how honest you think someone is, it’s not always true Iago proved, “I am not what I am” (I. i. 71). People have the potential to be great, or the potential to be greatly evil, it’s all up to how you want to live your life.

William Shakespeare’s Othello is a tragedy for it shows Othello suffered as is expected of any tragic hero.