Examples Of The Tragic Flaws In Othello

Analysis of Othello’s tragic flaws American film director Bennett Miller once said, “It’s a tragedy, it’s a classic tragedy. In a way, he’s got a character flaw that is going to cause his destruction, and it’s not going to come from the outside; it’s going to come from the inside of him.” In Shakespeare’s play “Othello”, Othello’s downfall was caused by several of his flaws or more commonly known as “tragic flaws”. The things that otherwise were great qualities, but also ended up being his biggest weaknesses. Othello’s ability to take things at face value, his pride in his reputation, and his passionate love for Desdemona, are just a few of his tragic flaws. In Act II, Iago says to himself, “The Moore, howbeit that I endure him not, / is

Perdition catch my soul/ But I do Love thee! And when I love thee not, /Chaos is come again” (3.3. 90-92). Othello is experiencing absolute internal hell. He’s struggling to believe that Desdemona is cheating on him. John Crowther author of “No fear Shakespeare” translates this line as, “What a wonderful girl! God help me, I love you! And when I stop loving you, the universe will fall back into the chaos that was there when time began” (Crowther). Even though Desdemona is completely innocent of infidelity, Iago keeps planting evidence to create doubt in Othello’s mind. Since Othello believes that all men are as noble and honest as him, he believes everything Iago is telling him. Although Othello still loves Desdemona, he warns that when his love runs out, all hell will break loose. Several lines later, Othello comes to the conclusion stating, “I am abused, and my relief/ Must be to loath her.” (3.3.267-268) This scene is explaining that he has made his decision, and his love for Desdemona has run out. Othello is so hurt and in a fit of rage, and passion he’s not thinking clearly or logically. His reasoning is, the only way he can get relief from the torment he’s experiencing is to hate Desdemona. If Othello wasn’t so intensely in love with Desdemona and blinded by jealously, he may have easily realized that not all men

Emilia hears Desdemona’s voice, and attempts to come to her aid but the door is locked. After Othello finishes smothering Desdemona, he opens the door to the bed chambers to allow Emilia in. He confesses to killing Desdemona because she was cheating on him with Cassio; Emilia asks who could of possibly told him that lie. Othello tells her that her husband has told him of the affair. Emilia seems confused and baffled and begins repeating “My husband”? which leads to this scene, Othello says to Emilia, “he, woman/ I say, thy husband; honest, honest, Iago”. To which her reply is, “If he say so, may his pernicious soul/ rot half a grain a day! He lies to th’heart. / She was too fond of her most filthy bargain” (5.2.153-159). Crowther translates this line as, “If he said that, then I hope his malicious soul rots in hell forever. He’s lying through his teeth! She was too attached to her filthy marriage ever to do a thing like that!” (Crowther). Emilia is explaining to Othello, Iago is lying and manipulating Othello. and says that Desdemona was far too in love with Othello to ever do such a thing. Marjorie Pryse Doctor of American Literature and Feminist Theory, has an impetration of both Desdemona and Emilia’s deaths. She is suggesting that you aren’t something unless you say it or admit to it. Which is why Desdemona could never bare to “confess” to Othello that she was a “whore”, Desdemona never actually did anything wrong. Othello