Tragedies come in all shapes and sizes. Natural disasters, death of a love one, and to a child, the loss of a beloved pet can be a tragic event. According to Greek philosopher Aristotle, the makings of a great tragedy include a person of “high-estate” whose downfall is due to his own tragic flaw. Aristotle says “Tragedy is an imitation of an action of high importance, complete and of some amplitude; in language enhanced by distinct and varying beauties; acted not narrated; by means of pity and fear effecting its purgation of these emotions” (Kennedy and Gioia 858). Tragedies allow for the audience members to relate to the heroes of the stories by observing their flaws and self-induced catastrophes. This can be said for William Shakespeare’s
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Othello’s punishment for his mistakes seems a bit harsh for one who was genuinely tricked into them. Without Iago’s plotting, Othello’s jealousy may never have come to the extremes that it did. It seems as though it were a punishment more fitting for the villainous Iago. Shakespeare’s protagonist kills his wife, his mind has been made up and he refuses to hear her explanations no matter how true they are, “She’s like a liar gone to burning hell! / ‘Twas I that killed her” (5.2.128-129). His punishment for his flaws is the fatal death of his wife, at his own hand. He is then tried a murderer and his title as general is removed from him, “Your power and your command is taken off, / And Cassio rules in Cyprus” (5.2.337-338). He has lost his love and his noble title all from a jealous rage that could not be controlled only to have come from …show more content…
The Literature Collection. New York: Pearson, 2013. 858. Web.
Shakespeare, William, and Sylvan Barnet. "The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice." Four Great Tragedies: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth. Revised ed. New York: New American Library, 1982. 167+. Print.
Shakespeare, William. “Othello, The Moor of Venice.” The Literature Collection. Ed. X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. New York: Pearson, 2013. 898-912. Web.
"The Tragedie of Othello, The Moor of Venice." Commentary. Hudson Shakespeare Company, n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2016.
"Tragedy." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 10 Oct.
Othello’s punishment for his mistakes seems a bit harsh for one who was genuinely tricked into them. Without Iago’s plotting, Othello’s jealousy may never have come to the extremes that it did. It seems as though it were a punishment more fitting for the villainous Iago. Shakespeare’s protagonist kills his wife, his mind has been made up and he refuses to hear her explanations no matter how true they are, “She’s like a liar gone to burning hell! / ‘Twas I that killed her” (5.2.128-129). His punishment for his flaws is the fatal death of his wife, at his own hand. He is then tried a murderer and his title as general is removed from him, “Your power and your command is taken off, / And Cassio rules in Cyprus” (5.2.337-338). He has lost his love and his noble title all from a jealous rage that could not be controlled only to have come from …show more content…
The Literature Collection. New York: Pearson, 2013. 858. Web.
Shakespeare, William, and Sylvan Barnet. "The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice." Four Great Tragedies: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth. Revised ed. New York: New American Library, 1982. 167+. Print.
Shakespeare, William. “Othello, The Moor of Venice.” The Literature Collection. Ed. X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. New York: Pearson, 2013. 898-912. Web.
"The Tragedie of Othello, The Moor of Venice." Commentary. Hudson Shakespeare Company, n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2016.
"Tragedy." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 10 Oct.