othello caused his own downfall

According to Aristotle's Poetics, a classical tragic hero should be renowned and prosperous, superior in some specific way, so that the reversal of fortunes or downfall, stirs up feelings within the audience of a greater intensity. Othello, after Iagos manipulations, seeks retribution on his beloved wife for allegedly having an affair. Desdemona, the daughter of a senator, is in love with him despite the fact that he is black. The motif of blood that Shakespeare includes supports this: O, blood, blood, blood! Every Person Is an Architect of His Own Future, Each In His Own Way An Oddball Or An Outsider, Mrs Pennimans character is to some extent a mere caricature in Henry James Washington Square. Charlotte, NC 28210, Othellos vulnerability to those around himfrom pressures of being a black man in a white society, to his all-trusting naivet in a man who despised him, to his clouded judgment and rash behaviour with his final confrontation of Desdemona; drove him to the brink of insanity and was the cause of his death. " (I, i, 284) Othello does not . Iago the arch villain in the play made Othello believe that his wife Desdemona and his lieutenant Michael Cassio were having an affair. html http://www. There is a feeling of fear and pity for poor Othello. suite101. No, Othello does not create his own downfall. Dr. Seuss once said We are all a little weird and lifes a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with. He tragically fell from being the prestigious Moor to a murderous lunatic who believed in falsifications of his own wife. Furthermore, Othello commits the ultimate act of savagery by striking Desdemona. 'A man's character is his fate. However, I believe this argument to be superficial, negating the wider context of Othello's world. 3. He has been, oerwhelmed with [] grief (Act 4, Scene 1) and cannot, confine [himself] [] in a patient list. With this state of mind and inner tormenting, he ends up killing his wife. The, he kills himself. 'Othello' the 1995 adaptation movie of the play 'Othello' is known to be one of Shakespeare's more tragic plays, as it follows the tale of Othello, an army general, and his rise to power . His discourse immediately calms the tension. As a result, Lodovico questions Othellos true dignity by asking, Is this the noble Moor whom our full of Senate call all in all sufficient? (Act 4, Scene 1). There is no option but to weep over the loss. In the tragic play, Othello, William Shakespeare creates the true wickedness of the character, Iago, through his devious plans created to cause the demise of Othello. Therefore, Desdemonas murder becomes an act of sacrificial love: A murder which I thought a sacrifice (5. Iago planned to avenge his jealousy at Othello by misleading him; however, it is an error of judgment on the part of Othello. The knowledge which they have gained in. Since Othello focused on the negative possibility, instead of being open to a positive possibility, and since hedonism was evident in himself and Iago, Othello, a tragic hero in the Aristotelian tragedy, obviously fell from being a man whom the senators revered to a man who was wifeless and powerless and who committed suicide., With Iago being the sole manipulator and contributor to Othellos downfall, Othellos incomprehension towards Desdemonas loyalty played an equal part to the fall of the hero. Ergo, Othello is the tragic hero in William Shakespeares play, Othello, the Moor of Venice. In addition, Othello also uses foul language that is inappropriate for a man with such high regards. In front of Lodovico, Othello uses phrases to discriminate women such as, she can turn and turn, and yet go on, and turn again (Act 4, Scene 1) and, if that the earth could teem with woman's tears each drop she falls would prove a crocodile (Act 4, Scene 1). Othello is solely responsible for his own downfall., Othello was a tragic hero with many good traits but he had one major flaw. Audience is shocked. Shakespeare frequently alludes to this through recurring motifs which show Iagos power of corruption, the first of these being poison. Read More Iago was only successful because of Othellos hidden flaws, but equally Othellos flaws were deeply buried within him, allowing him to become a General of the Venetian army, proving that they were not fatal, but aroused by skilful manipulators like Iago. net/shakespeare/study_tools/race. This is the height of pity and awe. 2. SouthPark, Suite 1200, Othello, filled with anger, asks Desdemona about the handkerchief he gave her. Catharsis helps purging of excessive emotions from a person. Dedicated to my beloved brother Shakeel Shahzad Javed and my Father Muhammad Javed. They respect Othello his courageous and brave service to the army. Shakespeares use of cosmic imagery when Othello swears illustrates the magnitude of Othellos resentment at his own hesitation, as his judgement is usually impulsive, as in Aleppo, (5. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. Othellos opinions of Desdemona cause problems in their relationships and also facilitates Othello to want to kill her. Othello 's downfall is caused by his lack of judgment, insecurity, and trusting nature. Othello by Shakespeare had been a story that ended with a tragedy as both Desdemona and Othello die at the end. 1129 Words 5 Pages Superior Essays Read More The Jealousy Of Destruction In Shakespeare's Othello The biggest part in the story that jealousy is shown is in the ending, mainly because this is were Othello kills his wife because of Iago 's trickery. Such animalistic metaphors emphasise the low opinion that Elizabethans had of Blackamoors, which may have been the root of Othellos downfall. Therefore, Othellos inexcusable behavior reveals his downfall and degression. In other works, Aristotle locates the essence of the self in perception; by sharing perception or perceiving the same things, the spectators develop a sort of common identity. Finally, Iago deceived Emilia into giving him Desdemonas handkerchief. In the beginning of the book, Othello was introduced as an influential general, but throughout the story, he begins to morph into an insecure, skeptical, self-conscious mad man. Othello turns from calm to a raging cauldron of jealousy. 3. 2. Shakespeare then uses dark and malignant imagery to show Othellos passionate rage with phrases such as Arise black vengeance and tyrannous hate! 346), and then in the final scene, Lodovico summarises the 3 corpses as poisons sight, thus demonstrating the link between Iagos manipulation and the plight of Othello and those around him. 361), and some critics may argue that this rash decision to trust Iago is proof that Othello is impulsive, causing him to make foolish decisions. 1. Othello enters their bedroom and wakes Desdemona up from his sleep. Ill see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; (3.3.220-21); Although Othello initially asks Iago for some real proof before believing the allegations on his wife to be true, in the end he still fails to realize that the handkerchief was not evident enough in proving Desdemona to be an unfaithful, First, Roderigo saw Iago as a friend and helped him advance his relationship with Othello. Write Such disastrous results are often triggered by the mistake of the tragic hero due to their tragic flaw or hamartia, which is often linked to hubris or excessive pride. From the beginning of the play, she loves Othello with all her heart and so does he. The play has been considered as one of his greatest works as a poet. Having culpability is having guilt and responsibility for an event or situations. This is mirrored by the transformation of Othellos language: formerly grand verse depicting his former successes becomes sinister and dark, with animalistic imagery of goats, monkeys, toads, and poisonous snakes, and diabolic metaphors for Desdemona such as fair devil, which liken his language to that of Iago. His focus in negativities, such as heavily viewing the possibility of his wife being unfaithful towards him instead of earnestly focusing on the positive possibility that Desdemona, his wife, is actually remaining faithful towards him, and the abundant hedonism in the play, such as his drastic desire for vengeance and knowledge and the desire of Iago, led to Othellos downfall. Othello is angry and indecisive about whether or not Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio based on where his handkerchief is: Fetch me the handkerchief. Heathcliff through out 'Wuthering Heights' is a very secluded character. Othello's downfall began when he wholeheartedly trusted the wrong person, Iago. It might have been his fate to slay his wife but it was brought about by his own actions and thoughts. 389). Iago continually uses rhetorical strategies to manipulate others. It is such a miracle how a baby is created in a mothers womb. 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Iago then convinced Cassio to drink, which lost Cassio the respect of Othello and the position he held. Othello admits to Emilia that he killed Desdemona, and when she asks him why, Othello tells her that Iago opened his eyes to Desdemona 's falsehood. How Far Was Edward Iv Responsible for His Own Deposition in 1470? Misunderstanding was his fault. 111). The hero suffers from some tragic error or hamartia which is primarily responsible for his downfall. Metaphorical catharsis from watching tragedy gave the spectators a shared experience that bound them closer together. Sophocles is the author of Oedipus play, which has enjoyed audience and support from other scholars. In fact, as with most tragic heroes, it is this decision which leads to his destruction. For example, when plotting, Iago refers to poison when he says: Ill pour pestilence into his ear (2. The reason for downfall of Othello in this play Othello written by William Shakespeare. Othello 's tragic flaw is often identified as jealousy, and he is indeed a jealous man.. My Iago creates an alternate world filled with lies, that unfortunately consumes the trusting and naive Othello. Othello emphasizes that he is going to kill her, and Desdemona asks him why. Similarly, Desdemona reflects many of Othellos positive qualities. In Act 3 scene 3, Shakespeare first suggests that Othello truly doubts Desdemona when he says, And yet how nature erring from itself- (3. Alternatively, Iago incites jealousy within Othello and watches him erupt. Othello was blind to the truth because his mind was filled with jealousy and rage. Shakespeare builds upon this manipulation through the motif of turning, as Iago vows to turn her virtue into pitch (2. 452) as it has connotations of violence, therefore foreshadowing the violence of the final act, in which the motif is repeated by Desdemona: Some bloody passion shakes your very frame showing the connection between Othellos hamartia and Desdemonas murder. PhDessay is an educational resource where over 1,000,000 free essays are collected. If it is solely Othellos hamartia which leads to his downfall, then it must be related to the change in his perception of Desdemona. He plots against Othello and his wife. Lago is the Villain of the Tragedy Othello But to What Extent is he a Tragic Villain? It can be argued that the shame induced by the idea of his wifes unfaithfulness results in his downfall, which Shakespeare expresses through animalistic imagery: I had rather be a toad/ And live upon the vapour of a dungeon/ Than keep a corner in the thing I love/ For others uses. The downfall of Othello is a story by William Shakespeare which is a romantic tragedy involving some themes such as jealousy, revenge, greed, reality versus appearance which all play a role in bringing the play into a tragic end. How Does Iago Corrup Othello in Shakespear's Othello, Beowulfs Fame, Fate and Destiny in His Life. Iagos improbable suggestions because he was led by passion and impulse, being Perplexed in the extreme by rage, instinctively trusting Iago. This leads Iago to manipulate Othello and cause his tragic downfall. The audience is filled with catharsis when Othello, a splendid lover and a remarkable general, has come to know the truth only after his wife has been slayed by himself. Where Bradley excuses Othello's behaviour Leavis blames him. Explore more free examples on similar topics. 3. By Othello believing those falsehoods, it causes him to lose trust and question his wife, Desdemona. She falls in love with Othello, the War Hero a hero who is no stranger to danger. But Iago targets Othello's vulnerabilties. 88). Iago planned to avenge his jealousy at Othello by misleading him; however, it is an error of judgment on the part of Othello. Farewell, Commend me to my kind lord: O, farewell! showing her motive to protect Othello which such a realisation leads to his own death, I kiss 'd thee ere I kill 'd thee: no way but this; Killing myself, to die upon a kiss. showing his remorse and regret for, The titular character in Othello, was a villain who caused his own downfall because of his personality and actions. Similarly, the black and white imagery of virtue and pitch is repeated by Othello himself when referring to Desdemonas reputation: begrimed and black/As mine own face. Similarly, the unconventionality of Othellos marriage to Desdemona rebelled against Elizabethan ideology, being contrary to nature as critic Karen Newman put it, which presented an obstacle in itself. The flaw that I saw Othello have in Shakespeares play was Jealousy and eventually all of his Jealousy is turned in to hate. The fall of Othello would be of high importance because it involves royal blood and may resultantly influence masses in general. The play, Othello, is a twisted tale of deceit and revenge. Iago represents vice; Desdemona represents virtue, and Othello is easily tempted by the vice of, Although Desdemona could not provide an answer for Othello when she was questioned on the whereabouts of the missing handkerchief, it was still not a good enough piece of evidence for Desdemonas infidelity. Such imagery would have been significant to an Elizabethan audience, as they considered the colour white to symbolise purity and goodness, whereas black had strong connotations of the devil, evil and uncleanness, thus highlighting the wickedness in Othellos disposition. Iago is envious of Othello and it appears that he makes it his goal to destroy the happiness the others. They even elope and marry. Thesis statement: Although some people believe that it is quite hard to manage the future because of inevitable fate, there seem to be no doubt that the person and only. Perhaps it is for this reason that, in his death scene, Othello says: For naught I did in hate, but all in honour (5. Othello was corrupted by his feelings of rage that he tried to find correlations with Desdemonas actions to prove that his assumptions were valid. Othello has been caught between his best friend Cassio and his wife, Desdemona. Monstrous! All Rights Reserved. Othello has now become a general in the army. 350), in the same way that Othello turns Turk through the metaphor in his final speech, an turbaned Turk traduced the state And smote him thus (5. Othellos act of striking Desdemona reveals his insecurity and provokes his bestial and inhuman character. By watching the tragedy and feeling the strong emotions of fear and pity on behalf of the characters on stage, the spectator experiences a kind of cleansing of the soul. 3. Othello has also been viewed as a very sympathetic character. 3. edu/home/bmcmanus/poetics. Othellos jealousy towards Desdemona and Michael Cassio eventually lead Othello to murder his love, Desdemona, and taking his own life at the end of the play., Othellos many shortcomings, from his insecurities, personality, and pride, were the ultimate reasons for his and Desdemonas downfall; Iago simply accelerated the process. By continuing well assume youre on board with our In Act 1, when warned by Brabantio that Desdemona may also deceive Othello, Othello retorts passionately: My life upon her faith! The dynamic of Othello's character significantly changes as the play evolves. 2. 6000 Fairview Road, Mr. Earnshaw brings him back to Wuthering Heights.. Iago, in Shakespeare's Othello, is a deceiving character because he tells lies in order to get what he wants. Othello expresses his inadequacy in speech; he compares himself to Cassio and finds that he. But that error is big enough to decipher his entire career and bring his downfall. He gets trapped. 349-52), and is evidence of Iagos success in turning Othello from a General into an enemy of the state. Edward had not executed. The deed he is bound to do is not murder, but a sacrifice. Othello chooses to believe Iago because he was swallowed by love and could not handle the thought of Desdemona ever, Othello is a Moor from Venice. It is for this reason that he accepts Iagos story of Cassios dream as the ocular proof even though Iago admits Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream; Othello immediately reacts: Ill tear her all to pieces! After Iago starts to interfere with Othellos relationship with Desdemona, Iago has control of Othello, since Othello regards the word of Iago as gospel. Othellos transition into becoming an insecure and jealous man takes his ability to think rationally away from him and strengthens his doubts which leads to him shattering his relationship with his wife, Desdemona. Copyright 2023 Studybee.Net. To What Extent Is Othellos Downfall, the Result of His Own Character? The main reason is jealousy. Only after when he realises that Desdemonas handkerchief was in Cassios possession did it allow the green-eyed monster to take possession of him, making him blind with hatred and revenge. It was Nov. 3, 2017, and the target was Jos Manuel Villarejo Prez, a former government spy. The plays are similar in tragic downfall of main characters. Othello proved his own villainous ways through his actions, which becomes apparent to the audience and other characters within the play. The main reason is jealousy. Alternatively, Othellos impulsive and passionate nature could also have contributed to his downfall, as this may have been his hamartia. (3. Othello was so blinded with jealousy that he choses to believe Iago, his 3ed-in-command, over his love. Othellos peripeteia occurs when he decides to trust Iago; however, the audience are surprised at this decision, as it is unclear what has changed his perception of Desdemona so that he condemns her as that cunning whore of Venice (4. . ' To what extent is Othello's own character the cause of his downfall? Need urgent help with your paper? 2. Introduction Cite In literature, a tragic flaw (or hamartia in Greek) is a trait that causes a character's downfall. On the other hand, it can be argued that Othellos downfall was not his own doing. But the more evasive Iago is of such questions, the more it riles Othello and Shakespeare uses cosmic imagery when Othello swears such as By heaven, Ill know thy thoughts to demonstrate the value that Othello assigns to Iagos opinions. There is a feeling of fear and pity for poor Othello. A tragic hero is a person who makes a bad judgment that leads to their own destruction. Othello even labelled him honest Iago and allowed Iago to advise him on his wife. Othello's lack of judgment causes his downfall in that he chooses to trust Iago, even to the exclusion of others. And his fall would cause a feeling of pity and fear among the audience. Scholars can use them for free to gain inspiration and new creative ideas for their writing assignments. This would fit the necessary consistency outlined by Aristotle, as the same passion and instantaneous response can be found in his reaction to Brabantio in scene 1 as in the later scenes, in his immediate reaction to Iagos suggestive statements. Othello's downfall is caused by his lack of character judgment, but it is also made possible by the villain Iago through his manipulative ways, his pre-built reputation, and his use of that reputation. cnr. USA. om/content/elizabeth-i-motives-for-expulsion-of-blackamoors-from-london-a248507 A. Othello is constantly aware of how different he is from everyone around him no matter how much they respect him and Iago was able to use this insecurity to his advantage and bring Othello to his downfall. Do you feel the pressure of the essay deadline? We see a great character, Othello, rising up in life and eventually bringing about his own downfall expressed in his own words of dismay: Where should Othello go? According to Aristotle, The change to bad fortune which he undergoes is not due to any moral defect or flaw, but a mistake of some kind like Othellos killing of his wife is based upon error of judgment and plotting by Iago. Tragedy results in a catharsis, emotional cleansing or healing for the audience; this is achieved through their experience of pity and fear in response to the suffering of the character(s) in the drama. Othello is fully manipulated by Iago that Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio. However Iago further manipulates Othello into thinking she should suffer as, In the tragedy Othello by William Shakespeare, it illustrates how easily one can be filled with poison and be manipulated in such little time. To what extent is Othellos own character the cause of his downfall? Othello may be the cause of his own downfall because he fails to understand that not all people are as good as he is and that everyone isn't out for the good of others. What is the cause of Othello's downfall? In Act 1, Othello diffuses a situation in which multiple combatants had already unsheathed their weapons. Sometimes it is hard to do all the work on your own. Emilia then becomes enraged at Othello, who realizes that he was wrong about his opinion of Desdemonas disloyalty, and regrets killing Desdemona so much, Through his violent actions and language, Othello displays his irrationality and insanity. In a final attempt to convince Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful he presents the evidence of the handkerchief, a marriage gift from Othello to Desdemona, to be in the possession of Cassio, the one Othello suspects of cheating with his wife (III, iii, 447-449). Othello had a chance to at least give her the benefit of the doubt, but he does not. Othello became increasingly angry with her when he thought she had lost the object in question. Mrs Penniman is seen as a caricature, a caricature. May their Souls rest in peace. He interacts with people only to manipulate them, but most importantly. She had tried to tie the handkerchief on Othellos head some time prior to Othello interrogating Desdemona on the missing handkerchief. Othello let his emotions stand in the way of logical thought and. html William Shakespeare (2003) Othello Edited by Norman Sanders Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, A Mans Character Is His Fate to What Extent Is Othellos Own Character?. 229) because he thinks that being white, Desdemona would prefer a white man like Cassio to himself. Moreover, Othello throws a fit in act four and falls into a trance. Save time and let our verified experts help you. Iago reveals Othellos insecurities, and prior to Iagos interference, Othello could control any situation. However, begrimed implies that both characters are stained, but as Desdemona is innocent, and Othellos inherited ethnicity determines his skin colour, the simile could relate to Iagos manipulation, and the darkness that he has brought upon the couple. He places more value on the opinions of this man as opposed to honest women, which ends up working out fatally for him. Othello is a moor, a black but honorable man, in Denmark. This reversal of fortune must be caused by the tragic heros hamartia, a mistake. Soon afterwards, Iago is named as the man responsible for orchestrating the entire faade. Queen Elizabeth complained in 1601 of the "great numbers of Negars and Blackamoors which are crept into this realm," 1 a feeling also expressed in the play when Othello is condemned as an old black ram (1. Iago exposes Othellos jealousy and navet and easily convinces him that Cassio slept with Desdemona. On the other hand, Desdemona is truly in love with him; she even accompanies him in the war out of love saying: That I did love the Moor to live with him and my hearts subdued even to the very quality of my lord. Othello, though a remarkable man indeed, begins to think that his wife does not love him in real because he is black. Even though Iago tells Othello it is a dream, Othello believes that his wife cheated on him proclaiming, O monstrous! A tragedy is the story of an individual whose downfall is brought about by specific defects in his character, tragic flaws. To what extent do we feel sympathy towards the character of Heathcliff? When Edward VI became King in 1461, he had to deal with some unfavourable circumstances. I believe Othellos downfall was proceeded by his own character, although I feel that Iago had a part in it too., Iago is able to manipulate his victims with his clever use of language.
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