A tragic hero projects mournful thoughts to make the tragedy sorrowful. Tragic heroes set themselves up to spiral into failure and disaster that resolves in death and misery. In William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Othello, Othello is portrayed as a tragic hero because he stumbles into his own downfall due to wrong choices, suffers from a tragic flaw, and his misfortune is not wholly deserved. The protagonist suffering greatly from his or her own poor judgement and mistakes creates the idea of a tragic hero. Othello tends to have morally inclined decisions, but falters in them due to his inaccuracy in trust and obliviousness to the truth. Iago manipulates Othello and makes him believe that he is trustworthy and loyal to Othello when really Iago
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Othello’s punishment did indeed exceed his crimes, but his misfortune is unfit due to the circumstances. Othello grows enraged with envy that ultimately results in the death of multiple characters because Iago continuously lies and manipulates him to distrust Desdemona. This deception warps Othello’s individual morals in the beginning of the play, introducing corrupt thoughts and actions. He realizes his change in character after he lays eyes on Desdemona’s dead body and says, “Blow me about in winds! Roast me in sulfur! Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire! O Desdemona! Desdemona! Dead! Oh! Oh! Oh! (IV.III.193-196). Othello cries out in despair after he realizes the mistake he has made. Iago easily deceives and exposes Othello to the feeling of envy that created him to assume false things. Iago is responsible for the death of Desdemona. Othello just performed the crime. Overall, Othello portrays a tragic hero because he is responsible for his downfall by putting trust in Iago, struggles with overcoming jealousy and he does not deserve his misfortune. The power of jealousy and deception overpower Othello and allows him to make flawed choices. Shakespeare uses Othello’s character as a tragic hero to emphasize the sorrow in the play and to create a sense of pity towards
Othello’s punishment did indeed exceed his crimes, but his misfortune is unfit due to the circumstances. Othello grows enraged with envy that ultimately results in the death of multiple characters because Iago continuously lies and manipulates him to distrust Desdemona. This deception warps Othello’s individual morals in the beginning of the play, introducing corrupt thoughts and actions. He realizes his change in character after he lays eyes on Desdemona’s dead body and says, “Blow me about in winds! Roast me in sulfur! Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire! O Desdemona! Desdemona! Dead! Oh! Oh! Oh! (IV.III.193-196). Othello cries out in despair after he realizes the mistake he has made. Iago easily deceives and exposes Othello to the feeling of envy that created him to assume false things. Iago is responsible for the death of Desdemona. Othello just performed the crime. Overall, Othello portrays a tragic hero because he is responsible for his downfall by putting trust in Iago, struggles with overcoming jealousy and he does not deserve his misfortune. The power of jealousy and deception overpower Othello and allows him to make flawed choices. Shakespeare uses Othello’s character as a tragic hero to emphasize the sorrow in the play and to create a sense of pity towards