What is the main cause of the tragedy in the play Othello?

Jealousy is a powerful emotion, one that can destroy relationships, and consume the mind. Whether sexual or platonic, once the seed of jealousy is planted it can lead to devastating consequences. Such an emotion created by the relationship between Desdemona and Cassio causes the tragedy of Othello.

Herein, what makes the play Othello a tragedy?

As in every Shakespearean tragedy, all those who were touched by the evil of the corrupting of the hero die as well, the innocent and the guilty. So, in short, Othello is a tragedy because the good man he was is corrupted, twisted, and finally destroyed by his jealousy, the flaw in his otherwise admirable nature.

Furthermore, what causes Othello's jealousy? Jealousy runs the characters' lives in Othello from the beginning of the play, when Roderigo is envi- ous of Othello because he wishes to be with Desdemona, and to the end of the play, when Othello is furious with envy because he believes Cassio and Desdemona have been engaging in an affair.

In this way, what type of tragedy is Othello?

Othello. Othello is a play that is a mainstream Shakespearean tragedy and therefore is an obvious text for Paper 1. It is a play capable of arousing deep emotions in audiences, exciting feelings of pity and terror (feelings that according to Plato ought to be kept in check).

What is the prime tragic flaw of Othello?

Othello's tragic flaw is being gullible. His background of baseness makes him a weak minded person. Iago is an evil man who wanted to see the downfall of Othello.

28 Related Question Answers Found

What does Othello say before he kills himself?

Iago has been so successful that Othello feels compelled to kill himself, explaining that “I kissed thee ere I killed thee—no way but this, Killing myself to die upon a kiss” (5.2.).

Who is the hero in Othello?

Othello - The play's protagonist and hero. A Christian Moor and general of the armies of Venice, Othello is an eloquent and physically powerful figure, respected by all those around him.

On what grounds can Othello be called one of the greatest tragedies?

A classic story of love, jealousy, and betrayal, Othello is considered one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies. The literature narrates the story of Othello, a Moorish (North African) general who marries a Venetian woman and then is maliciously deceived into being certain that his wife is unfaithful.

What are the elements of tragedy?

After discussing the definition of tragedy, Aristotle explores various important parts of tragedy. He asserts that any tragedy can be divided into six constituent parts. They are: Plot, Character, Thought, Diction, Song and Spectacle. The Plot is the most important part of a tragedy.

Is Othello a comedy or tragedy?

Othello is unusual among Shakespeare's tragedies because much of it is set up like a typical Shakespearean comedy. Shakespeare uses this to show Othello's progression from military hero to tragic hero. Although Othello is the tragic figure, Iago is really the main character in the play.

What does Othello mean?

Definition of Othello. : a Moor in the military service of Venice, husband of Desdemona, and protagonist of Shakespeare's tragedy Othello.

How did Othello die?

Answer and Explanation: Othello dies by his own hand. He lies next to the deceased Desdemona and stabs himself. Having kissed Desdemona before he killed her, Othello states

Who all dies in Othello?

Lesson Summary

Specifically, we learned that by the end of Othello, there are four dead bodies: Desdemona, Emilia, Roderigo, and Othello himself. Iago murdered two of these people with his own hand, but his influence is at the bottom of them all.

What makes a tragedy a tragedy?

1. a. A drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances. b. The genre made up of such works.

What is the tragic form?

Tragic form is referring to the fact that Macbeth is a tragic play, as in it is a play that follows the terrible and/or sorrowful events of a tragic hero. The play is not a comedy because there is no happy ending (as most Shakespearean comedic plays ended happily with marriage).

Who is to blame for the tragedy of Othello?

Iago has said multiple times that Othello is a fool, but this passage shows Othello admitting he is a fool. Othello's character is the source of most of these problems because it only took Iago a short amount of time to convince him that his two most trusted people, Desdemona and Cassio, are betraying him.

Is Emilia a tragic victim?

Emilia is a tragic victim as ultimately she dies from knowing that Desdemona's murder was due to the actions of her husband. Finally it was the women who were tragic victims at the hands of a society where the man is judge, jury and executioner, as well as manipulating them to satisfy their selfish needs.

Why is Othello not a tragic hero?

According to Aristotle, a tragic hero ought to have a fatal flaw, which triggers him or her to accidentally cause an injury. However, a closer look at Othello's actions shows an otherwise intent. He did not cause an injury due to ignorance or accidentally. Instead, Othello intentionally plotted and killed Desdemona.

Who is the most jealous in Othello?

Iago is jealous of both Othello's success and the fact that Othello made Cassio a lieutenant. Iago claims that Cassio has never set a foot on the battlefield and that in promoting Cassio Othello has chosen by letter and affection and not by old gradation (Act 1. Scene 1).

Is Othello's downfall his own fault?

No, Othello does not create his own downfall. But Iago targets Othello's vulnerabilties. Othello expresses his inadequacy in speech; he compares himself to Cassio and finds that he comes up short, he feels as if he is an outsider to Venetian society, he is not experienced with women.

How does Iago show jealousy?

Iago becomes jealous to Cassio and plans to destroy the relation between Othello and Cassio in any way it is pos- sible. He uses Roderigo, a rejected suitor to Desdemona and Emilia, the innocent wife of Iago in his evil plot.

Why is Bianca jealousy in Othello?

The object of Bianca's jealousy is a handkerchief given to Desdemona by her husband Othello. Emilia, Desdemona's attendant, reluctantly turns the handkerchief over to her husband, Iago. Bianca enters with the handkerchief that she describes as 'some minx's token' and refuses to 'take out the work' or copy it.