Othello mini essay practice:
Othello is a tragic hero:
Othello is a tragic hero as he falls from grace whilst following his obsession, owing to his
fatal flaw which ultimately ensures that he makes an error in judgement against his wife,
Desdemona.
Othello is of a “constant, noble loving nature” which leaves him susceptible to manipulation
as he is far too trusting. This virtue soon becomes his fatal flaw which sets about his
downfall as the duplicitous Iago begins to infiltrate his mind. Iago “pour[s] pestilence into
[Othello’s] ear” regarding a supposed affair between Cassio and Desdemona. Othello’s “free
and open nature” is exploited by the apparent “honest Iago” who provides him with no
reason to suspect guile. As Iago continues to “abuse [Othello’s] ear” he slowly becomes
more convinced. Once he is provided with ocular proof in the form of the handkerchief, the
symbol of fidelity and the gift from Othello to Desdemona, he becomes “eaten up with
passion”, which prompts his fall from grace as he is indoctrinated with this idea towards the
end of the play.
Othello allows himself to be “abused by some outrageous knave” which forces him to
undergo inner turmoil as he follows this obsession. He experiences a loss of control and
rationality and resorts to violence which is unlikely for the once “worthy Othello”. He uses
crass language and overt sexual imagery to describe his wife as a “cunning whore”. Othello
has “changed with [Iago’s] poison” and he has fully debased himself to resemble Iago. “His
occupation [has] gone” and he vows to “tear [Desdemona] all to pieces. This shows his fall
from grace as a one respectable and dignified general. The “unbookish jealousy” that
Othello experiences causes him to murder his wife who was once “[his] soul’s joy” as an act
of service to the state for her supposed infidelity. Only after Iago is exposed as a “hellish
villain” is Othello able to grasp the full extent of his fatal misjudgement. He recognises how
Iago had “ensnared [his] soul and body” and acknowledges how mistaken he had been. He
realises that he has strayed so far from his former self “that wert once so good” and as a
result kills himself as a further act of justice to the state. Although he realises this
irreversible mistake too late his honour is still restored as he acknowledges his
misjudgement.
Othello’s fatal flaw is ultimately his credulity as opposed to innate jealousy and it is this
which spirals him from his dignified self to an uncontrolled and barbaric man capable of
such violence and murder against his own wife. However his recognition of his
misjudgement restores some of his original honour, making Othello a tragic hero.
WORD COUNT: [432]
Othello is a tragic hero:
Othello is a tragic hero as he falls from grace whilst following his obsession, owing to his
fatal flaw which ultimately ensures that he makes an error in judgement against his wife,
Desdemona.
Othello is of a “constant, noble loving nature” which leaves him susceptible to manipulation
as he is far too trusting. This virtue soon becomes his fatal flaw which sets about his
downfall as the duplicitous Iago begins to infiltrate his mind. Iago “pour[s] pestilence into
[Othello’s] ear” regarding a supposed affair between Cassio and Desdemona. Othello’s “free
and open nature” is exploited by the apparent “honest Iago” who provides him with no
reason to suspect guile. As Iago continues to “abuse [Othello’s] ear” he slowly becomes
more convinced. Once he is provided with ocular proof in the form of the handkerchief, the
symbol of fidelity and the gift from Othello to Desdemona, he becomes “eaten up with
passion”, which prompts his fall from grace as he is indoctrinated with this idea towards the
end of the play.
Othello allows himself to be “abused by some outrageous knave” which forces him to
undergo inner turmoil as he follows this obsession. He experiences a loss of control and
rationality and resorts to violence which is unlikely for the once “worthy Othello”. He uses
crass language and overt sexual imagery to describe his wife as a “cunning whore”. Othello
has “changed with [Iago’s] poison” and he has fully debased himself to resemble Iago. “His
occupation [has] gone” and he vows to “tear [Desdemona] all to pieces. This shows his fall
from grace as a one respectable and dignified general. The “unbookish jealousy” that
Othello experiences causes him to murder his wife who was once “[his] soul’s joy” as an act
of service to the state for her supposed infidelity. Only after Iago is exposed as a “hellish
villain” is Othello able to grasp the full extent of his fatal misjudgement. He recognises how
Iago had “ensnared [his] soul and body” and acknowledges how mistaken he had been. He
realises that he has strayed so far from his former self “that wert once so good” and as a
result kills himself as a further act of justice to the state. Although he realises this
irreversible mistake too late his honour is still restored as he acknowledges his
misjudgement.
Othello’s fatal flaw is ultimately his credulity as opposed to innate jealousy and it is this
which spirals him from his dignified self to an uncontrolled and barbaric man capable of
such violence and murder against his own wife. However his recognition of his
misjudgement restores some of his original honour, making Othello a tragic hero.
WORD COUNT: [432]
