Examples Of Archetype In Othello

The definition of a hero is “ A person who is usually admired or idealized for either courage, noble qualities, or outstanding achievement…(Meyers 1497 )”. However, heros aren't necessarily always defined by their achievements, but however defined by how they are able to handle trials and situations. Such is the case of the tragic hero Othello, from the Shakespearean play of Othello. In the tragedy of Othello, Othello is betrayed and manipulated by his friend Lago causing him to undergo many trials and endure a ruined reputation. A classic archetype that othello displays in this story is that he tries his best to trust man and see the goodness in them, and displays this archetype by trusting Lago despite the intentions of his friend, his belief …show more content…
As he was being prosecuted for the supposed crime of “seducing the senator's daughter..(II.ii.214)” he believed since that he was to be judged by his peers and men whom he had fought alongside with, that they would understand that he was innocent of this. However this faith he placed in his companions would soon prove to be misled. As the reader is able to see during his trials, his fellow commander and leader of the armies of Venetia, Cassio, would betray him because of the power that Othello had earned during the campaigns, As well as the Duke of Venice, whom Othello considered to be a “father figure”(III.ii.114) and likewise, the duke considered him as a “son” (III.i.79), would sell Othello’s life and freedom to the executioner out of fear of losing his power. These men were able to fix the case against Othello in their favor and were able to turn public opinion against Othello, leaving him to rot in jail for something he didn’t commit. The mark of a tragic hero is that a man with great and admirable qualities is felled by many trials or losses, such as Othello, the general who was turned from an almost indestructible figure, to a broken man by the ones he trusted the