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Othello Tragic Hero Quotes

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Othello is the perfect tragic hero
William Shakespeare's timeless play, Othello, presents the audience with a complex and deeply flawed protagonist whose story embodies the idea of a tragic hero. Othello entices readers with his story of success and failure, and his journey serves as a cautionary tale to every reader. We can see his downfall through his actions, he is noble in character, has a tragic flaw of jealousy, and has a tragic downfall that leads to a catharsis.
From the beginning of the play, The audience sees Othello being praised for his character, he is a person who is admired by everyone around him. The duke praised Othello's valour and appointed him to lead the Venetian forces against the Ottoman Empire in this quote “Valiant …show more content…

Othello's tragic downfall is a result of manipulation, jealousy, and destructive decisions. As the play unfolds, Iago's devious plans gradually poison Othello's mind, taking advantage of his vulnerability to jealousy. Othello realizes that he must kill Desdemona or else she will hurt more men as she has hurt him. He explains that “she must die, else she'll betray more men.” This quote demonstrates Othello's tragic descent into madness and the tragic consequences of his actions. Othello is driven by jealousy and Iago’s deceit, so much so, that he truly believes killing Desdemona is the only way to solve his problems. Finally, after Othello kills Desdemona, he realizes the magnitude of his actions. Othello acknowledges that the only way to make up for his actions is to kill himself, this is shown when he says "I kissed thee ere I killed thee. No way but this, Killing myself, to die upon a kiss." Othello's declaration that he kissed her before killing her signifies his deep remorse and love for Desdemona, and it shows how guilty he feels. Othello's tragic downfall becomes increasingly obvious to himself and the audience as he realizes that he has destroyed the very thing he loved most. Othello's acts of violence against Desdemona and himself show his descent into madness and the tragic consequences of unchecked

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This ultimately leads to the tragic ending of the play. To where Othello smothers Desdemona to

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546 Words | 3 Pages

(Act 3, Scene 3) Iago uses his manipulative skills to create doubt and suspicion in Othello's mind, leading him to become jealous and ultimately kill Desdemona. In conclusion, Iago's cunning and lies are the main cause of Desdemona's tragic fate, making him the most to blame for her

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1490 Words | 6 Pages

After Iago manipulates Othello into believing that his wife has not been loyal, Othello is shocked, and scared of the effect on his honor. The more manipulation by Iago, leads to more fear and rash acting by Othello. This escalates into an equivalent of a fight or flight response. Othello believes that, in order to protect his honor and his reputation, he must kill Desdemona. This rash decision surfaced from a point of extreme manipulation, and despair; a situation created by Iago.

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843 Words | 4 Pages

This reveals to him that his search for justice had failed and was entirely misguided and pointless. After reflecting upon his actions, he feels that he does not recognize himself. When a man asks where Othello is, the general himself responds by saying, “That’s he that was Othello. Here I am” (5.2.334). He can no longer claim identity to the respected name “Othello '' when he has debased himself, and more importantly his reputation, by acting in such a violent and jealous manner.

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801 Words | 4 Pages

He manipulates Othello into seeing a completely different and false treachery. Due to Iago’s scheming, Othello was beyond convinced that Desdemona was sneaking around with Cassio behind his back. He felt she betrayed their “sacred” matrimony and irrationally thought his only solution was to smother her to death. This fake betrayal exemplifies the themes of jealousy and the fragility of the love between Othello and Desdemona. Iago made sure Othello’s jealousy ran so rampant that his mind was overtaken by anguish.

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759 Words | 4 Pages

The tragedy of Othello written by William Shakespeare presents the main character Othello as a respectable, honorable, and dignified man. However, because of his insecurities and good nature he is easily taken advantage of and manipulated by his alleged friends. Shakespeare is known for his exceptional ability to compose plays full of deceit, revenge, and jealousy. Jealousy is an underlying theme throughout the tragedy and has been represented by many of the main characters, such as Iago, Roderigo, and Othello. The topic of jealousy will ultimately lead to the demise of many characters throughout the tragedy.

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882 Words | 4 Pages

Othello’s Demise Othello, the lead character in William Shakespeare’s play Othello, is done in by the same character attributes, which propelled him to become a great military leader. He has accomplished great victories in battle to the likes, of no others. He is held in high regard throughout the nations as one of the greatest military leaders and is called upon to fight in the most challenging battles successfully. There is no deterrence, by Othello even though his is not of the same race or from the same country, whom he defends.

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1477 Words | 6 Pages

Othello is so blind from jealousy that Iago ends up brainwashing and manipulating Othello into killing his wife. Othello chooses to kill himself after coming to his senses and realizing what he did, he states, “I kissed thee ere I killed thee. No way but this, killing myself, to die upon a kiss.” He now becomes aware that he made the wrong judgements towards the one person who showed him true love and commitment. It is a little too late when Othello eventually realizes that Iago has betrayed him.

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694 Words | 3 Pages

As a tragic hero, Othello must have a high position to fall from, but his high position must not keep him from being likeable. He must be noble in position and personality. The audience must be able to recognize his humanity, feel sympathy for him, in order to experience the catharsis a tragedy offers.  When Othello is forced to defend himself before the duke and senators against Brabantio ’s accusation that he used witchcraft to seduce Desdemona, his noble personality is clearly established.

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524 Words | 3 Pages

Othello's pride is also turned to shame as he listens to the villainous Iago and murders his innocent wife. In doing this, he also loses those things most precious to him. First, he loses his true love as Desdemona forgives him from her deathbed by trying to hide his guilt. When asked "Who has done this deed? " she replies: "Nobody-I myself" (5.2.123-4).

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1121 Words | 5 Pages

Making hard decisions fast and precisely is a valiant trait possessed by this noble character who gives his all to any task. His leadership ability is so admired by the Venetian state that he is appointed general of Cyprus when it is under threat of invasion by the Turks – an achievement when one considers that he is Moorish and not Venetian. Othello has also fought in several wars in various parts of the world, and most of the high politicians recognize his abilities including his closest worker, Iago. Brabantio also admired Othello greatly and this is what prompts him to invite Othello to his home so that he can listen to stories of his adventures in different parts of the world.

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856 Words | 4 Pages

Shakespeare 's Othello centers around the power of jealousy and how it can end up causing the death of a couple and some of those around them. Othello seems to grow incredibly jealous of his wife, Desdemona, and his lieutenant, Cassio’s fake affair that Iago, the villain, has convinced Othello of. As an act of jealousy, Othello decides to kill Desdemona to prevent her from hurting more men and then after realizing everything was part of Iago’s plan he kills himself due to the guilt he feels after having killed his wife. Shakespeare’s use of figurative language and symbolism in act 5 scene 2 reveals how even though Othello truly loves Desdemona, his jealousy for what he believes she has done has completely clouded his judgment and taken over

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1060 Words | 5 Pages

In Shakespeare's tragedy Othello, jealousy and gullibility creates the tragic downfall of the hero, Othello. Throughout this play, Othello, a moor who serves as a general in the army, experiences a great downfall caused by gullibility and jealousy. All tragedies have a hero with a tragic flaw. In this tragedy, the hero loves too well, and he lets the prejudice issues of others take their toll on him. He allows jealousy to rage in his heart.

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844 Words | 4 Pages

Othello’s character undergoes a significant change due to a series of events at the hands of Iago, the play’s antagonist to enhance the fact that even a valiant heroes can become corrupt. In the beginning of the play, Othello adores

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1513 Words | 7 Pages

The Moorish General Othello is an accurate definition of a tragic hero. Not only is Othello a very successful general in the Venetian army, he is also seen as a respected, honorable, noble hearted man. These traits are admired greatly amongst the characters found within Othello. This includes Iago who admiringly states that Othello is “of a constant loving, noble nature [and] will prove to Desmona a most dear husband’ (2.1.290-292). In order to truly feel the tragic downfall, an understanding of “high estate” being not of royalty or of noble stature, but one that “gives him a place of dignity to fall from and perhaps makes his fall seem all the more a calamity” (Kennedy & Gioia 856) is needed.

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