Shakespeare’s tragic heroes are often represented as noble characters who suffer disaster and who are not to blame because of their naivety. At the same time, the brilliance of the tragedy is confined to the flaws of the characters which prevents them from making the right decision. Othello is also in front of the choice whether to trust his wife or listen to his ill-famed tempter. Othello, therefore, is a tragic hero who confronts the strong force of his jealousy and excess trustfulness.
The rapid development of the actions in Shakespeare’s play reveals Othello’s gradual fall from grace as a result of his growing jealousy. At the end of the play, Othello’s realizes that his naivety and lack of confidences in his wife’ innocence and fidelity. The hero attempts to receive one more change to redeem and suffers because of the inevitability of the outcomes of his personal weaknesses.
Othello is a tragic hero whose nobleness and naivety prevents him from making the right decisions. The protagonist, therefore, is a soldierly character who belongs to a primitive race and is guided by emotions rather than by his mind. Although his has a jealous and passionate nature, Othello rejects his impulsivity: “… Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them. – Good signior, you shall more command with years than with your weapons” (Shakespeare 20).
By pronouncing these phrases, one can call Othello as a wise personality whose nobleness and grace makes him reasonable and impassionate. At a glance, Othello meet al the requirements of a noble figure. He takes the noble position of the General of the Republic of Venice and he is always aware of the responsibilities he takes.
Despite these words, the hero is soon eager to take revenge on his wife for reasons that would have never been counted as a proof by a reasonable and sensible mind. Placing faith in Iago, whom he considers to be committed to the highest moral values, Othello makes an error brining him to fall.
The wrong decisions made of Othello are due to the flaws in his character. The hero suffers tremendously because of his ill-famed nature and impossibility to resist his primitive impulses. The downfall of Othello lies in his extreme disposition to jealousy and excess confidence in Iago’s honesty. He overtly accepts Iago’s false statements as the truth leading to disaster of the self. Being extremely disposed to deception, he is furious about the facts he learn from Iago and acts immediately, with no delay and little reflection.
Othelo’s simple way of thinking, as well as his extreme hatred to wife differs completely from the noble and wise statements at the end of the play: “She’s gone; I am abus’d, and my relief must be to loathe her. O curse of marriage, that we can call these delicate creatures ours and not their appetites.” (Shakespeare 112). Being under the influence of the Ancient, the protagonist fails to believe in his wife’s words and, because of the wrong choice, he commits the inevitable.
Regarding Othello’s actions described in the play, the hero’s mind, as represented by the poet, is very primitive and simple. He rarely delves into deep reflections concerning his deeds and actions. Therefore, when emotions ignite his imagination, it confuses his intellect. Despite his dignity and faith in honesty and honor, he has absolute trust where there is no place for hesitation. Similarly, other feelings he experiences are also absolute.
If he loves, it should be all absorbing, just like other emotions, such as jealousy, passion, and respect. Because of his primitive and one-side nature, the hero is absolutely sure that he has the right to take the position of a judge and punish his wife for betrayal. This major fault, therefore, lies in misplacing confidence in his companion Iago who is extremely villainous. Because of the simple nature, Othello is incapable of conceiving the intrigue around him.
As a result, the hero is overwhelmed with emotion s and hatred and neglects the values and honors in which he previously believed. In this respect, the play provides an picture of Othello’s suffering and the shifts occurred to the perception of the surrounding world: “…let her rot, and perish, and be damned to-night; for she shall not live: no, my heart is turned to stone; I strike it, and it hurts my hand” (Shakespeare 157).
Any signs of reason and wisdom disappear as soon as Othello is obsessed with taking revenge on Desdemona’s betrayal. Accepting the seen for the truth, Othello puts all doubts aside and suffocates his wife.
Being completely fired with the jealousy and passion, Othello later realizes that the murder he committed is not justified. At the end of the play, he realizes that his strong dependence on Iago’s false honesty and authority prevented him from making personal judgment and decisions.
Realizing that all moral values her believes in were lost and, therefore, Othello is sure that death is the punishment he deserves for his villainous actions: “…you must speak of one that loved not wisely, but too well, of one not easily jealous, but being wrought….one whose hand…threw a pearl away rich than all his tribe…” (Shakespeare 234).
Learning the truth, Othello once again reveals his primitive and noble character. His sincerity and naivety ruins him and distracts him from the noble path, which is the main tragedy of the play. On the one hand, Othello’s absolute trust in fidelity, honesty, and love makes him a gracious character. However, failure to listen to his own mind prevents him from doing the right decisions in his life. On the other hand, Iago is a strong villainous force that takes advantage of the hero’s naïve and primitive nature to generate chaos and dishonesty.
In conclusion, it should be stressed that Othello is a classical tragic hero who fails to resist his primitive and jealous nature. He fails to trust to the self and is trapped within the Iago’s intrigues.
Being disposed to the Ancient’s influence, the hero fails to discover the truth and relieve his mind from hatred and fury. As a result, his falls from grace and his utmost feeling of honesty. With no reflection and judgment, Othello commits murder because he believes that his acts are those of a noble man. Desdemona, therefore, must die in not to betray other man.
At the end of the novel Othello realizes that his hasty actions are not justified. Guided by a splash of emotions, the hero neglects other opinions and puts his fate in the hands of his ill-famed companion. Overall, Shakespeare’s play provides an insight in the tragic events leading to redemption and reconciliation. At the same time, the story is a bright example of events that teach people be more reliant on personal opinion.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William. Othello. US: Plain Label Books, 1968. Print.