Shakespeare’s Othello: Hero or Villain Review Essay

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Shakespeare’s Othello is a complex character who acts as the central figure of the play. He has numerous qualities that might characterize him as a good or a bad person. However, it is still possible to view Othello as a hero but a tragic one. This type of protagonist usually misbehaves because of poor judgment or erroneous conclusions. At the same time, he/she accepts responsibility for these actions and is ready to be punished. The same idea applies to Othello, who has the qualities of a true hero. He is a famous noble general recognized by his people, government, and army. His greatness comes from his contribution to his country’s development and safety. All past actions characterize Othello as a hero with numerous positive qualities.

Moreover, he is a loving husband and cannot imagine his life without Desdemona. However, his downfall as a tragic hero is also linked to this strong feeling. Usually, passionate love is viewed as one of the essential qualities of true heroes, and it became a great tragedy for Othello. His evilest acts were performed because of the unfortunate mistake and Iago’s envious personality. It means that all features of a villain Othello acquires because of the activity of other people, while his only sin is the inability to recognize others’ lies and trust his wife till the end, which results in Desdemona’s death. However, Othello remains a tragic hero as he calls himself a murderer and realizes the tragedy of his actions: “I kiss’d thee ere I kill’d thee: no way but this; / Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.” Moreover, people around are astonished by his actions and the noble nature of Othello’s soul. In such a way, it is possible to say that Othello cannot be viewed as a villain. He is a tragic hero who suffered from his actions.

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IvyPanda. 2023. "Shakespeare's Othello: Hero or Villain Review." December 5, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/shakespeares-othello-hero-or-villain-review/.

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IvyPanda. "Shakespeare's Othello: Hero or Villain Review." December 5, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/shakespeares-othello-hero-or-villain-review/.

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