As part of my trip to Florida, I decided to bring along my copy of
Othello. After being fully immersed into the world of Shakespeare the last 5 years, I decided that it would be best to add yet another play to my library. As much as I love comedy, I love the tragedies that love endures, or destroys. After reading
Romeo and Juliet,
Macbeth, and
Hamlet, I thought that
Othello would be just the same. To test this statement, I used Aristotle's guide for a tragic hero. In
Hamlet and
Macbeth, the two main characters were tragic heroes, but what about
Othello? First, I examined Othello's nobility. Othello has attained nobility by being a high ranked general in the Venetian army and he is a married to Desdemona, the daughter of a Venetian senator. Second, Othello is not perfect because he is a Moor and very insecure because of his race and age. Third, Othello's downfall is when he becomes insane by the thoughts Iago puts into his head. By listening to Iago, Othello makes himself crazy. Fourth, Othello does not deserve to be fooled by Iago. Iago caused more damage to Othello's reputation than to his relationship. Fifth, Othello asks to be remembered exactly the way he was. He does not want things exaggererated or toned down, but for the truth to be known to all. Lastly, Othello's catharsis is when he stabs himself in the end after losing his wife Desdemona. After my research, I came to the conclusion that Othello is a tragic hero after all. Also, as a last thought, I would like to point out the word demon in the name Desdemona. Did Shakespeare do this on purpose? Probably.
