Othello as a Tragic Hero - Essay Example

..’ (Aristotle & Else 11). Therefore, one can certainly assume that the construction of the character of a tragic hero is so complicated that one has to engage in a great endeavour to judge or evaluate the intricacies in the creation of such a popular character like Othello. As Othello is included among the four great tragedies of Shakespeare, a special attention is needed from the part of a researcher who explores the Othello’s character. The systematic study of a tragic hero, therefore, can probably begin by comparing or bringing Shakespeare’s tragic hero Othello in terms of Aristotelian concept of tragic hero.

Aristotle in his ‘Poetics’ defines tragic hero as the one “who is not eminently good and just, yet whose misfortune is brought about not by vice or depravity, but by some error or frailty” (Aristotle & Else 24). He also adds that ‘he [the tragic hero] must be one who is highly renowned and prosperous,--a personage like Oedipus, Thyestes, or other illustrious men of such families’ (Aristotle & Else 24). When analysing the character of Othello on this ground, one can see that Othello is a renowned and prosperous general who meets his tragic doom not because of misfortune but a flaw in his character, namely, his growing jealously.

Aristotle has already commented that the tragic flaw leads the hero to his fall which evokes pity and fear in the spectators, leading to catharsis. In addition to the tragic flaw, the widespread death and terror can be clearly attributed to the inevitable defect in the persona of Othello, the tragic hero (Sharina). Even if one cannot regard Aristotle’s theory as the final word on tragedy, it would be useful to unveil what is going on in Othello. It is also possible for one to join with other critics when they regard tragic ‘flaw’ as some moral weakness in the tragic hero.

Regarding Othello as a jealous man who kills his wife out jealousy and suspicion will not be an apt judgement of his character because he possesses certain nobler qualities in him. Shakespeare presents the picture of a noble and lovable general in the beginning of the play. This generous military noble and his intellectual love are capable of rousing jealousy in the spectators that they may wonder at the utmost purity and innocence in his love making. But with the advent of Iago, his ensign, Othello’s fortune turns aside and it is the influence of Iago, in addition to his tragic flaw, that works as one among the external factors, leading him to his ruin.

The description Othello as a noble general in the play has often been viewed as an apt judgement about the character of Othello by many critics. They are of the opinion that the tragic flaw of Othello was vested mainly on his trust on the ‘Janus-faced’ man, Iago. Othello’s words, “.my ancient; a man he is of honesty and trust. To his conveyance I assign my wife” are sufficient enough to envisage Othello’s belief in Iago which in time proves to be ironical. It is this misconception of his ensign leads Othello to meet his tragic end where it evokes catharsis in the audience.

As in the case of many tragedies, in Othello also one can see the influence of certain other factors like the excess of a virtue other than the hero’s tragic flaw. Therefore, one can acknowledge that ‘In the case of Othello, this perilous virtue takes the form of his generous