What is Othello's tragic flaw that causes his downfall?

One could argue that Othello's tragic flaw is jealousy. Othello trusts the malevolent Iago, who is dedicated to
causing his downfall. Iago convinces Othello that Michael Cassio is having an affair with Desdemona, which
sparks Othello's jealousy. Othello's jealousy is also fueled by his self-doubt and low self-esteem. He
understands that he is an aging foreigner, who is not particularly refined or attractive. Despite being initially
dismissive, Othello eventually demands to have proof of his wife's infidelity. Iago then goes on to tell Othello
that he overheard Cassio talking in his sleep about his relations with Desdemona. Something as circumstantial
as the handkerchief that Othello gave Desdemona becomes significant when she no longer possesses it. Iago
uses the absent handkerchief to further influence Othello into believing that his wife is unfaithful.
Unfortunately, Othello cannot see past his wife's apparent infidelity and ends up murdering her out of jealousy.

Othello's suffering results mostly from his poor judgment. He trusts the wrong people and mistrusts those who
are most loyal to him (Desdemona and Cassio). In Act 3, he sets aside his sensible, military side and falls prey
to Iago's manipulation.

It must be noted in Othello's case, though, that while he might share Brutus's tragic flaw (from Julius Caesar),
Othello deserves more sympathy from the audience. In a sense, he is a victim of his time period. While Brutus
exercised poor judgment throughout Julius Caesar, he was used to commanding respect because of his family
and character and did not have to fight against prejudice. In contrast, Othello's poor judgment largely results
from his self-doubt regarding his true acceptance into European society. He has been conditioned to think that
he is not good enough for Desdemona or the inner sanction of white society.

While some argue that Othello's tragic flaw is jealousy, he really does not suffer from that until Iago plants
seeds of doubt in his heart regarding Desdemona. Normally, Shakespeare's tragic characters establish a pattern
connected to their tragic flaws, and there really is no pattern to justify jealousy as a flaw with which Othello has
constantly struggled.

In life, heroes will arise whenever they are called for. It may be the everyday heroes that are seen rescuing a cat
from a tree or helping an old lady cross the street. It may also be the heroes that are see in movies and books
rescuing the princess from the dragon or leading their country in battle. Perhaps the rarest hero is the tragic one.
William Shakespeare has artfully crafted some of the most prominent tragic heroes of all time. With one of the
greatest being Othello. Othello is a tragic hero because of his noble traits, his tragic flaws, and his tragic
downfall.
For someone to be a tragic hero, they must first be a noble character. Othello can be considered a noble
character because he is one of high social ranking and he has a genuine heart. Othello, despite coming from a
rough past, is an honorable war hero and the general of the Venetian army. Along with his social stature,
Othello also has a noble heart. Although he is sometimes portrayed as violent, Othello’s loving nature can be
seen in instances such as when he speaks about Desdemona. These traits are greatly admired among characters
of Othello including Iago who admits that Othello is “of a constant loving, noble nature [and] will prove to
Desdemona A most dear husband” (2.1.290-292). Othello’s nobility is quite evident; however, he does have
traits that can be viewed as tragic flaws.

Othello is a tragic hero because of his tragic flaw. There are many undesirable traits in Othello, like his jealousy
and gullibility. However, the core of these problems and his main tragic flaw is his insecurities. Othello being
the only black character and an outsider in Venice brings upon many insecurities. His vulnerability makes him
an easy target for Iago to manipulate his mind; he begins to believe that he isn’t good enough for Desdemona:
“She’s gone, I am abused, and my relief Must be to loathe her. Oh, curse of marriage That we can call these
delicate creatures ours And not their appetites!” (3.3.283-286). Iago was easily able to convince Othello that
Desdemona has been unfaithful. However, Othello doesn’t realize his insecurities have taken over his life until
it is too late and his tragic downfall has already hit rock bottom.

What makes Othello a tragic hero is he experiences a tragic downfall. Othello’s downfall is set into motion
when the jealous Iago begins planting seeds of doubt into Othello’s already insecure mind. Iago’s manipulative
words convince Othello that his wife is unfaithful; from then on he begins to lose his noble traits. He treats his
wife with little to no respect and eventually smothers her to death. When Iago’s plot is finally unveiled and
Othello realizes his terrible mistake, it is evident he has reached his emotional limit: “Whip me, ye devils, From
the possession of this heavenly sight! Blow me about in winds, roast me in sulfur, Wash me in steep-down gulfs
of liquid fire!—Oh, Desdemona! Desdemona! dead! Oh! Oh!” (5.2.286-290). In his distraught state of mind and
with his broken heart, Othello decides to kill himself. With one fatal stab, this hero’s tale comes to a tragic end.

Othello is a tragic hero because he is noble, he suffers from a fatal tragic flaw and he goes through a tragic
downfall. All these traits that Othello exhibits lead him to be known as one of the most well-known tragic
heroes in all of literature.

A tragic hero is of noble status and greatness. The tragic hero possesses a human tendency to make error in
judgment. The tragic hero has a tragic flaw. Othello is noble and quite capable as a leader. He is chosen to lead
in the military effort against the Turkish invasion against Cyprus. Although he is of high stature and greatness,
he makes an error in his judgment against his wife, Desdemona.
Othello is a tragic hero in that he allowed his jealously to overcome him. It is one thing to be jealous, but
Othello acted on his jealousy and murdered his wife, Desdemona. Because Iago planted seeds of jealousy,
Othello was taken into a snare. Othello should have trusted his wife. He trusted the wrong man and his life
ended in tragedy.

Although Iago planted seeds of jealousy, Othello lacked self-control. He could not control his rage. This was a
tragic flaw. He allowed his jealousy to consume him. He was totally overwhelmed with jealousy. Rather than
trusting his beloved wife, he smothered her out of jealousy. In the end, he takes his own life out of utter
hopelessness.

These characteristics fit Othello:

The following is a summary of [Aristotle's] basic ideas regarding the tragic hero:

1. The tragic hero is a character of noble stature and has greatness. This should be readily evident in the
play. The character must occupy a "high" status position but must ALSO embody nobility and virtue as part of
his/her innate character.

2. Though the tragic hero is pre-eminently great, he/she is not perfect. Otherwise, the rest of us--mere mortals-
-would be unable to identify with the tragic hero. We should see in him or her someone who is essentially like
us, although perhaps elevated to a higher position in society.

3. The hero's downfall, therefore, is partially her/his own fault, the result of free choice, not of accident or
villainy or some overriding, malignant fate. In fact, the tragedy is usually triggered by some error of judgment
or some character flaw that contributes to the hero's lack of perfection noted above. This error of judgment or
character flaw is known as hamartia and is usually translated as "tragic flaw" (although some scholars argue that
this is a mistranslation). Often the character's hamartia involves hubris (which is defined as a sort of arrogant
pride or over-confidence).

4. The hero's misfortunate is not wholly deserved. The punishment exceeds the crime.

5. The fall is not pure loss. There is some increase in awareness, some gain in self-knowledge, some discovery
on the part of the tragic hero.

6. Though it arouses solemn emotion, tragedy does not leave its audience in a state of depression. Aristotle
argues that one function of tragedy is to arouse the "unhealthy" emotions of pity and fear and through
a catharsis (which comes from watching the tragic hero's terrible fate) cleanse us of those emotions. It might
be worth noting here that Greek drama was not considered "entertainment," pure and simple; it had a communal
function--to contribute to the good health of the community. This is why dramatic performances were a part of
religious festivals and community celebrations.

Othello is a tragic hero for several reasons. First, let's examine the definition of a tragic hero. A tragic hero is
the protagonist of a story who has a fall from grace. A tragic hero is a character who has everything going for
him or her, however, they have flaw that sparks their downfall. Due to hubris or pride the heroic character,
realizes his or her unfortunate mistake to late. Othello is a military general who is respected by the government
and most of the people in his Italian community. However, Iago is the antagonist or nemesis who works against
Othello. Due to Iago's envious and vengeful personality, he constructs the downfall of Othello. Iago hates
Othello because Othello has promoted Cassio instead of himself. Then, Roderigo hates Othello because he's in
love with Desdemona who is Othello's wife. Finally, Brabantio, Desdemona's father hates Othello for marrying
his daughter without his permission. Despite Othello's courageous leadership, he is tainted by Iago's, Roderigo's
and Brabantio's feelings about Othello's race and/or national origin. Keep in mind Othello is a Moor from North
Africa. He is the only African in his Italian community; therefore, he is subjected to the scrutiny of others.

The play is set in the 1600s. At that time, interracial marriages were not always accepted or appreciated. When
Othello marries Desdemona who is a woman of Noble birth, there are some people who think that Othello is
simply not good enough. However, Desdemona loves her Moorish husband unconditionally. She loses the love
of her father, yet she stands by her husband's side. Othello's race is not an issue for Desdemona. However,
Othello begins to wonder if his wife would prefer an Italian husband. Othello's major flaw is jealousy, which
leads to his feelings of insecurity and doubt. Once Othello becomes doubtful of his relationship with his wife,
jealousy convinces him that his wife Desdemona has become unfaithful. Instead of trusting his loving
relationship, he believes Iago when Iago suggests that Cassio is having an affair with Desdemona.

Ultimately, Othello's jealous nature leads him to kill the only woman he has ever loved-Desdemona. By the end
of the play, several people have died including Othello. Othello has everything going for him. Yet, the story
ends tragically because the hero of the story ends up dying a dishonorable death.

Othello fits all of the criteria of a tragic hero that Aristotle outlined in his work, "Poetics" According to
Aristotle:

1. The tragic hero has a noble stature and a high position in his culture.

Othello is a general and commander of the Venetian armed forces. Later, he is governor of Cyprus.

2. The tragic hero is great, but not perfect. The audience relates to him as a human being.

The lack of self-esteem because he is a Moor is a problem for Othello.

3. The hero's downfall is the result of a "fatal flaw" in his character. It is the result of free will, not of an
accident or mere fate.

His lack of self-esteem allows him to be manipulated by Iago into thinking his wife is having an affair.

4. The hero's misfortune is not wholly deserved. The punishment exceeds the "crime."

He kills his wife and then himself.

5. The hero's fall is not pure loss. This increases awareness, a gain in self-knowledge, or some sort of discovery
on the part of the tragic hero.

Before he dies he says, "one that lov'd not wisely but too well". Othello realizes that he was manipulated but it
is too late.

Othello is the husband of Desdemona whom he murders because he has been misled by the villainous
Iago. Othello comes to see love through Iago's eyes and not through Desdemona's--these two characters
represent internalized features of Othello's character. He rejects his loving and generous self (Desdemona)--that
aspect of humanity which makes society possible--in favor of the dark passions of his self-centered ego (Iago).

In the end, the forces of love and trust regain their strength as Othello finally recognizes the goodness of
Desdemona. Iago is finally condemned as the villain he is, but in the meantime the action of the play has
demonstrated the power of evil.

Othello is a "tragic hero" due to his self-centered nature and his gullibility--he allows himself to be manipulated
by Iago instead of trusting his heart. He does redeem himself, but it is too little, too late.

**William Shakespeare’s play Othello, the Moor of Venice concerns the downfall of Othello who was a Moorish General
and can be considered a tragedy. The main character who is the hero in the drama faces trouble at the end of the play
when he kills his wife suspecting her of being unfaithful. The play is full of suspense and contains the theme of jealousy,
intrigue, suspense, and murder creating a great tragedy as per Aristotle's order. According to Aristotle, three main things
constitute a tragic drama such as hamartia, which is the tragic flaw in the character that faces the downfall. The other one
is catharsis in which the emotions of the audience change in a manner that makes them learn a lesson from the drama. The
third ingredient is anagnorisis, which involves the revelation of some facts that were never realized before to the character
considered as the hero. Othello is a tragic hero since he fulfills all the three requirements offered by Aristotle since he is
initially a person possessing noble status but later falls to a shameful one. This happens because he has the quality of
hamartia leading him to suffer shame at the end of the drama. Again, Othello’s plot has catharsis experience at the climax
of the drama as the play ends. The anagnorisis is experienced when Othello comes to realize the evil in Iago and that his
wife is innocent. He is very powerful at first, and no one thinks that his life can end tragically, as it happens during the
conclusion. Therefore, it is right to argue that Othello is a tragic drama considering the changing life of the main character
from a highly regarded man to a shameful one.

Outline

1. Introduction
 o The play Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragedy with Othello as the tragic hero.

o A tragic hero must be a man of high status and later face downfall.

2. Othello, the Moor fits the definition of Aristotle’s tragic hero.

o He is highly respected by the senators of Venice State and the citizens

o He has heroic qualities such as courage, dignity, religious ties, sound judgment, and practice of
self-control

o His downfall is caused by his flaws

3. Another distinct quality of a tragic hero according to Aristotle is that the cause of the downfall must
result from flaws of his character

o Othello’s jealousy is one of his weaknesses

o Othello kills his wife, but the audience still has pity on Othello after he realizes his wife is
innocent

o The play does not end in a happy mood

4. Another important element of tragedy Othello is the revelation of facts related to the tragic hero or
anagnorisis.

o Othello discovers that Iago lied to him of Desdemona’s unfaithful.

o The audience is aware of Desdemona's innocence yet her husband is not.

5. Conclusion

o The features of tragic dramas include hamartia, catharsis, and anagnorisis.

o Othello is the tragic hero since the play satisfies all the qualifications for tragedy as defined by
Aristotle.

“Othello, the Moor of Venice" can be considered as a Shakespeare's tragedy in which Othello serves as the
tragic hero according to Aristotle. A tragic hero according to the Greek Philosopher, Aristotle, must be a person
occupying a prestigious estate, Prince, or nobleman, possess a tragic flaw besides having some judgmental
skills, and falls from a high state to a low one (Dewar‐Watson 12). By using the criteria suggested by Aristotle,
it is possible to determine whether Othello, the Moor acts as a tragic hero or not. Othello is a tragic hero since
he is a respected man at the begging enjoying power and honor but later faces downfall when he murders his
wife suspecting her of being unfaithful.

Othello who is a Moor completely fits the definition given by Aristotle of a tragic hero. For one to qualify he
must possess qualities such as being a person of a high state, face downfall and become unhappy, and his
downfall must be contributed by his tragic flaws (Kennedy & Gioia, 856). In the play, Othello is a Moor from
Africa of noble birth who serves at the highest rank in the military as the Cyprus Governor-General. He
commands nobility, is confident, and very strong besides being highly respected by people of the Venice State.
For instance, the treatment he gets from the senators is special such as the time when he enters a room where
leaders are discussing the state matters. In fact, one member of the sitting senators exclaims, “here comes the
Barantio and the Valiant Moor (Shakespeare and Opzoomer Act 1 Scene 3). This statement shows that he
receives a lot of respect from other leaders and thus can be considered a tragic hero. In addition, his
demonstration of confident reaction especially when Barbantio accuses him of engaging in witchcraft activities
is proof that he is the hero of the land as defined by Aristotle. Again, he is a man with an African stature that
commands respect from the people and senators of Venice since he is described as tall and dark. For instance, in
Shakespeare and Opzoomer Act 1 scene 2, the governor of Cyprus named Montano awaits for Othello's ship to
arrive after an intense storm in the Sea. He calls him brave Othello a character that commands complete respect
and honor from leaders and citizens of the state (38). Othello is a man that commands high honor from
everybody including soldiers and his people that call him "captain" a word that refers to a commander or a
soldier of troops. He possesses a lot of knowledge and skills since he started his military career at a young age
of seven years. By the time he is a grown up man he is very experienced and capable of leading the troops to
any battle. This one quality makes him feel great and enjoy privileges although they do not last long due to his
weakness of reacting with rage. The other characteristics that earn him high honor include courage, dignity,
religious ties, sound judgment, and practice of self-control according to the play (Bradley 66). However,
towards the play end Othello loses his self-control qualities when he commits a terrible murder crime that
irritates everybody. He enjoys some power and happiness especially when the play begins but later falls to
become a murderer hated by people.

Another distinct quality of a tragic hero according to Aristotle is that the cause of the downfall must result from
flaws of his character and his way of making judgment leading to failure. Othello’s jealousy is one of his
weaknesses besides believing the lies told by villain Iago that Desdemona is unfaithful to him. He cannot
imagine that his wife can love another man and becomes extremely angry such that he cannot control his actions
leading to violence. Othello should investigate the accusation concerning the accused but believes all the lies
and murders Desdemona and later himself. His behavior that seems quite impulsive makes him react violently
instead of trying to find out whether the stories told about his wife are true or not. Iago is aware of the moor's
weaknesses and uses them to cause his downfall as he states "The Moor is of a free and open nature… And will
as tenderly be led by the nose / As asses are" (Shakespeare and Opzoomer 1.3. 379). It is therefore; right to
argue that Othello fits well in the description of a tragic hero by Aristotle since his downfall results from his
hamartia or tragic flaws.

In addition, an actual tragedy according to Aristotle contains a purgation, which can leave the audience with a
feeling of justification and uplift at the end. However, the purgation does not need to be positive as Kenedy and
Gioia (857) ague. For instance, in Othello's case, the audience may not feel happy and excited with the play's
ending since almost all the main characters die. However, they may feel justified by the punishment in the
villain thus the play transforms the emotions of the audience at it ends. According to Aristotle, a play must have
the capability to arouse the audience feelings of fear and pity and later give them a conclusion, which satisfies
them. In Othello, the audience pities Othello, Iago, and Desdemona but still feels fear for the couple that was
enjoying a happy marriage before the conflicts set in. The worst fears come when Othello kills his wife, but the
audience still has pity on Othello after he realizes his wife is innocent, stabs himself, and dies. The play does
not end in a happy mood, but the punishment of Iago gives it a dramatic closure. One primary purpose of a
tragedy is dramatizing the weaknesses, failure, and the despair of human beings and how they can improve their
character through character analysis. Shakespeare has accomplished all the requirement of a tragic hero to bring
a feeling of pity and fear to the audience.
Another important element of tragedy according to Aristotle found in Othello is the revelation of facts related to
the tragic hero referred to as anagnorisis. This may include the transformation of individuals from ignorance to
knowing which may create friends or enemies (MacFarlane 367). There some things that the audience is aware
of but the characters such as Othello do not know until at the end of the drama. Anagnorisis is realized towards
the play end when Othello discovers that Iago made a trap and lied to him that Desdemona is unfaithful.
However, it is already too late since he has committed an irreversible act of killing his wife. When he realizes
that he acted with haste and that Desdemona is innocent, he commits suicide and the play ends in a sad mood. It
is unbelievable that such a respectable and powerful man can behave in a manner that irritates everyone in the
state. The wife of Iago, Emilia cries in bitterness exclaiming Desdemona’s innocence after the Moor kills his
wife “Moor she was chaste…” (Shakespeare and Opzoomer 5.2.258). At this moment, Othello realizes Iago’s
lies and cries before ending his life since he cannot forgive himself for the crime he has committed. Revealing
the identity of characters, which were unknown, is also an important element of anagnorisis as defined by
Aristotle. The tragic hero in Othello experiences this at the end of the play by knowing the real character of his
wife and Iago, but it is too late. When the revelation is made, Shakespeare's drama climaxes as Othello faces the
reality of the crime he has committed due to his hasty decisions. The audience has a climactic moment as it
discovers the truth as Herzel put it that "a special kind of double vision comes into play" (498). The audience
witnesses actions that have terrible effects although the agent is not aware of it. The audience is aware of
Desdemona's innocence yet her husband, Othello is not. In this case, Othello's anagnorisis as the play ends is
quite poignant.

According to Aristotle, there are three features of tragic dramas, which include hamartia, catharsis, and
anagnorisis. All these have been depicted fully in Shakespeare's play that highlights the rise and downfall of
Othello. Deceit and jealousy contribute to his tragic failure, the death of the couple, and Iago's punishment.
Othello is a tragic drama and the main character, Othello is the tragic hero since the play satisfies all the
qualifications for tragedy as defined by Aristotle. The main themes portrayed include intrigue, jealousy,
faithfulness, remorse, death, and betrayal. The drama teaches the audience to be careful when handling difficult
situations especially after receiving devastating news. If Othello investigated the issue regarding Desdemona he
could have discovered that Iago was lying. The death of his wife becomes his final blow and he realizes that he
is no longer the powerful and respected man. At this point, he is very weak and cannot control his actions and
his life ends tragically. Considering all the happenings in the play especially to its main character, Othello, the
moor of Venice qualifies to be a tragic drama.