Analysis Of Othello: The Unheroic Tragic Hero '

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Nuttall, A. D. "Othello." A New Mimesis: Shakespeare and the Representation of Reality (London: Methuen, 1983): pp. 120–143. Quoted as "On Othello" in Bloom, Harold, ed. Othello, Bloom 's Shakespeare Through the Ages. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2007. Bloom 's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 22 Apr. 2016 .

Throughout the article “On Othello” the author A. D. Nuttall states that Othello is not a hero, but more of a gullible “hero”. During these times, Othello was considered the outsider for being a black moor from a foreign country, but Nuttall suggests that Iago is the true outsider of the play. The difference between Othello and Iago is that Othello is underevolved while Iago is overevolved. Nuttall paints a picture with their
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Heilman suggests words that can easily describe Othello would be “nobility”, “simplicity”, or “passionateness under control”, because Othello has an “extrovert” personality but is motivated and passionate about events in his life. Because of Othello’s passionate loving nature, Heilman suggests the reason for his violent breakouts are caused by held in stress. Othello’s mind never truly matures, he thinks of himself as the victim of women which is part of why he never took it on his part to look for answers himself when dealing with the lies he was told by Iago and held all of his stress in. Heilman argues that the reason for Othello’s collapse from Act 3 is because he realized he would never be loved, especially after murdering his wife, his unknown assurance of love pressured him into suicide. Heilman argues that the murder scene fulfills the characterization of Othello in how he is a violent person who only sees justice. Heilman suggests that Othello placed himself on a pinnacle of constant assurance and by doing so, Othello has blinded himself to see the true nature of himself and thoughts. Arguing that the priestly role is worked out alongside the judicial role, also making the judge out as a killer, Heilman explains that he judge would also become the prosecutor. By merging incompatible roles, one can see Othello’s self-deception and how he does not have any. Due to how gullible and easily deceived Othello was, one can infer that Othello has a need for self-deception. After Othello forms a hint of what Iago was doing, it was too late, so with his new version of the truth, Othello wants justice on Iago. Heilman points out how at the end, Iago hardens up in silence, stays to himself and shuts off, attempting to live in a private world of his own for however long he

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