Othello Tragic Hero Analysis

Throughout Shakespeare 's play Othello, many similarities can be drawn between the title character and tragic heroes of other famous works. These observations can be made by looking at the clear outline of characteristics that Aristotle has given use to describe such ill-fated protagonist. Even with this obvious checklist of factors some people believe he remains outside the category of the tragic hero. People try and say that Othello does not have a tragic flaw, that he is not filled with pride, or even that Othello deserved the fate he received. These accusations have a lack of basis in reality, because when we look at the character of Othello and discover the meaning behind his actions it becomes apparent that Othello is a true tragic hero. …show more content…
But when one looks at his character and the decisions he makes in his life it becomes apparent that Othello 's trust leads to his downfall. His misplacement of trust in Iago exists as the single most important cause of tragedy in his life. This trust in someone created by their past friendship and high rank in the military leads to Othello 's downfall. The reason trust must be defined as his tragic flaw is because in order to qualify as a tragic hero "the calamities of tragedy do not simply happen, nor are they sent; they proceed mainly from actions, and those actions of men" (Bradley 11). This entails that men themselves must make the decisions that lead to their downfalls and that their lives are not "...the playthings of an inscrutable power, called by the name of Fortune..." but a result of their choices (Bradley 9). The choices of Othello and his decision to trust Iago over his wife Desdemona stand as the driving force in his demise. While others will try to use a scapegoat and say that chance led to his demise, Othello 's presence in these life altering situations exist by the fault of one