Othello and Tragedy
OTHELLO AND TRAGEDY ‘Othello’ is a tragedy, and in Shakespearean tragedy the situation usually opens in confusion, often caused by some deposit of evil within man. ... TRAGEDY It is necessary that students should have some idea of what Tragedy means. There are many definitions of it but we might go back to Aristotle who, in the ‘Poetics’, said that a tragedy is the imitation of an action that is serious and complete in itself. ... In Tragedy there is always a fall and it is with this the writer is concerned—its causes, the way it works, its effects. ... Associated with Tragedy, too, is the notion of the ‘boomerang’. ... It has been said that “it is not necessary that there should be blood and deaths in Tragedy”, but in ‘Othello’ there is violence, including violence in speech—e. ... Othello’s cruel accusions of adultery (Act 4, Sc. ... TRAGIC HERO In Tragedy there must also be a Tragic Hero whose situation changes from well-being to misfortune, who must suffer for his wrong-doing on this earth until he has expiated his offences. ... OTHELLO AS A TRAGIC HERO How does Othello fulfil the role of Tragic Hero as set out in the above terms? ... If he is fundamentally vindictive and violent, it may be argued that his suffering and ultimate suicide are no great cause for pity, that he deserves to be punished, that there is no great tragedy involved.