Is Othello A Hero Or A Villain

Although Othello has frequently been praised as William Shakespeare’s most integrated tragedy, many critics have found the primary character to be the most unheroic of Shakespeare’s heroes. Some have found him beyond redemption; others have described him as being overwhelmed by powerful emotion; still others have found him self-pitying and indifferent to the severity of his actions. Yet all of these critiques are overshadowed by the excitement and sympathy produced for the character throughout the play.
As a Moor, Othello is considered an exotic being, a foreigner from a mysterious land. He is passionate, yet not devoid of sensitivity. Rather, his problem is that he is thrown into the cultured and highly refined environment of Renaissance …show more content…
Once he sets out to destroy Othello, he achieves his goal through plot and innuendo. He tells others only what he wishes them to know, sets one character against another, and develops an elaborate maze of circumstantial evidence to trick Othello. Iago’s success in convincing other characters of his tall tales is a matter of the conventional ability of the typical Renaissance villain. However, there is more to the conflict than Iago’s abilities, whether conventional or natural. Othello is the ideal victim because he bases his opinions and relationships on instinct rather than reason. His courtship of Desdemona is brief and his devotion absolute, as is his devotion to trust his comrades, including Iago. It is not that Iago is generally believed. Ironically, he is able to fool everyone about everything except the subject of Desdemona’s purity. Only Othello is able to be deceived on that concept. Roderigo, Cassio, and Emilia all disregard Iago’s claims that Desdemona has been …show more content…
Iago places doubts in Othello’s mind, but his real success comes when he gets Othello to demand “ocular proof.” Although it seems that Othello is demanding definite evidence before confirming that his wife has been unfaithful, it is more vital that he has accepted Iago’s idea of tangible evidence. From that point on, it is easy for Iago to fabricate evidence and create appearances that will lead to inaccurate conclusions. Othello displays excessive emotional behavior in his rantings and fits, but these are the result of his acceptance of what seems to be undeniable proof. It takes a long time and a great deal of false evidence before Othello finally abandons his innate perception of the truth of his marital situation. As Othello himself admits, he is not quick to anger but, once incensed, his natural passion takes