“The tragic hero prefers death to prudence. The comedian prefers playing tricks to winning. Only the villain really plays to win.” –Mason Cooley
Othello:
Othello was a brave, respected Christian Moor who was the general of the armies of Venice. With lack of self-control Othello became a tragic hero after jealousy got the best of him. Othello was in love with a debutante named Desdemona as in which her father did not approve of. Desdemona was expected to marry a rich, handsome Venetian man but instead she elopes with Othello who she loved very much. Iago, Othello’s right hand man was extremely angry that Othello chose Cassio to serve a higher position than him. This jealousy then triggered Iago to come up with a plan to bring down Othello. Iago plants a handkerchief in Cassio’s room to convince Othello that Cassio and Desdemona are seeing each other. Throughout the play Othello’s jealousy increased to the point where Othello asked Iago to help plan to kill both Cassio and Desdemona. As Othello tries to kill Desdemona Emelia, Iago’s wife comes in and tells Othello the truth behind Iago’s sneaky, jealous demeanour. However, it was too late and Desdemona dies. When Othello tries to confront Iago he tries to escape but is then captured by guard. Othello then kills himself because of all the horrible doings that he has done.
How does this make Othello a tragic hero?
Othello was a brave, respected Christian Moor who was the general of the armies of Venice. With lack of self-control Othello became a tragic hero after jealousy got the best of him. Othello was in love with a debutante named Desdemona as in which her father did not approve of. Desdemona was expected to marry a rich, handsome Venetian man but instead she elopes with Othello who she loved very much. Iago, Othello’s right hand man was extremely angry that Othello chose Cassio to serve a higher position than him. This jealousy then triggered Iago to come up with a plan to bring down Othello. Iago plants a handkerchief in Cassio’s room to convince Othello that Cassio and Desdemona are seeing each other. Throughout the play Othello’s jealousy increased to the point where Othello asked Iago to help plan to kill both Cassio and Desdemona. As Othello tries to kill Desdemona Emelia, Iago’s wife comes in and tells Othello the truth behind Iago’s sneaky, jealous demeanour. However, it was too late and Desdemona dies. When Othello tries to confront Iago he tries to escape but is then captured by guard. Othello then kills himself because of all the horrible doings that he has done.
How does this make Othello a tragic hero?
- Othello who is living in a racist time would realistically never be seen as a man of high status but Othello overcomes this issue and is seen as a man of great honour, bravery and pride living quite a successful life
- By society and through the audience Othello is seen as a great guy (not including Iago)
- Othello then trusted the wrong person which brought out the worst in him(jealousy, lack of self-control, rage)
- Rather than trusting his own wife Desdemona, he took her life
- The tragedy continued by Othello’s misconception which triggered him to kill himself
- which was Iago’s plan all along
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo is the tragic hero from Shakespeare's well known play of Romeo and Juliet. Romeo’s traits of loving to easily and believing in fate ended tragic for him. At the beginning of the play it is obvious that Romeo is in love with a girl named Rosaline. After Romeo and his friends go to a party he then falls in love with a different girl named Juliet. He believes Juliet is the most beautiful girl and will be his loving soul mate. There was a feud between their two families (the Montague’s and Capulet’s) which made their relationship very complicated. When Romeo saw Juliet lying in her tomb he believed she was dead and he was devastated. Friar Lawrence sent a letter to Romeo explaining to him to be by Juliet’s side when she wakes up because Juliet planned for herself to appear dead to society due to a drug induce so she could run away with Romeo without anyone knowing. Romeo did not receive this letter before he saw Juliet in this state and he knew could not live wit out Juliet so Romeo committed suicide.
How does this make Romeo a tragic hero?
- Romeo is a member of a wealthy, prominent family
- Juliet was Romeo’s true love and he was willing to do anything for her
- Romeo’s tragedy was that he did not receive the letter in time from Friar Lawrence to tell Romeo to be by Juliet’s side when she wakes up
- When Romeo saw Juliet lying in her tomb he believed she was dead and saw no point in living any more
- Romeo is a tragic hero because he killed himself for a reason that did not exist