Analysis Of Othello: A Tragic Hero

A tragic hero is someone who is of high position in his culture. A tragic hero, is extraordinary, however not perfect. The audience is able to relate to him or her as a human being. The hero 's downfall is the result of a fatal flaw in his character. It is the result of free will, not of an accident or insignificant destiny. The hero does not necessarily deserve the misfortune. The punishment surpasses the "wrongdoing." The hero 's fall is not a complete loss. There is always an increase in awareness, a gain in self-knowledge, or some sort of discovery on the part of the tragic hero. Othello’s insecurities and how easily he trusts Iago are the main causes of his tragic downfall. Othello has a noble stature, as he is a well respected general. …show more content…
As for Algren 's downfall, it is not as clear. It could be when he was taken as a prisoner by the samurai however, this situation transforms into an interesting experience. The fact that he depends on alcohol to relieve his stress from constantly having flashbacks of the massacre of Native American civilians at the Washita River is definitely a flaw. Both Othello and Nathan Algren have the qualities of a tragic hero, which are: a high position, a fatal flaw, and a downfall caused by their flaw. It is clear that Othello is a superior example of a tragic hero because his flaws are much easier to relate to and his experience creates a larger amount of emotion in the audience compared to Algren 's. A tragic hero is of high position, a position which is well-known. In this way, people of all kinds can understand the possible problems or emotions a hero experiences. Othello is a well respected general in Venice, he is also known to be noble, even by Iago. Othello is the only black character in the play, he is also a former slave. Somehow, he has managed to rise