Comparing The Tragic Hero In Othello And Things Fall Apart

The prospective tragic heroes of Othello and Okonkwo in William Shakespeare’s Othello, the Moor of Venice and Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart only Othello meets the tragic hero requirements introduce in Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero. In Aristotle’s definition, its include that, to be defined as a tragic hero one must be in a high position, display aspects proving that he is not completely good nor completely good, having experience a downfall, and exhibit a tragic flaw in which the character admits in having. Othello is a tragic hero while Okonkwo is not a tragic hero while both conveying different themes. The tragic hero Othello and Okonkwo convey the themes that jealousy is a destructive force and the path of fear leads to suffering,
Okonkwo’s fame and position reached to the entire nine villages. Okonkwo is well known in all the nine village as someone in a high position thanks to his “solid personal achievements” (Achebe 3). Okonkwo started out as being in one of the lowest positions of his village. This soon changed thanks to the achievements he has done, and now he is a person in high reputation. Okonkwo is not always good since he always desperately tries to protect his reputation. Okonkwo never shows anyone his affection including his family, since “affection was a sign of weakness” (28). Okonkwo constantly thinks that reputation only deals with one strength, so he hides what is contrary to strength which is weakness and affection. Thanks to this, he does some harsh things to his family in fear of being thought weak. Okonkwo is constantly at fear of being thought of as weak. Ikemefuna runs towards Okonkwo after he realizes that he is going to die, to which Okonkwo “drew his machete and cut him down” (61). Okonkwo deeply cares about Ikemefuna, but his own pride and stubbornness causes Okonkwo to think about his reputation then the ones he truly cares about. So Okonkwo cuts Ikemefuna down to hide his weakness when he is really showing it clearly. While Okonkwo has done some bad things, he has
Othello’s tragic flaw comes from trusting people too much. Iago is talking to himself to figure out a plan on how to ruin Othello life to which he reminds himself that Othello is “free and open nature” (Shakespeare1.3. 382). Othello will trust anyone, so Iago uses this in order to give Othello lies about his wife which will fuel Othello’ jealousy. Othello’s downfall all started from trusting Iago. When Vince was getting ready for war against the Turks, Othello ask Iago “A man he is of honesty and trust” to watch over his wife during the travels to Cyprus. At that very moment when Othello trust Iago to protect his wife, was when Othello downfall started since now Iago knows that Othello will trust anything he tells him. Othello jealousy expands to the point where he wants to kill his best friend. Othello hearing Iago and Cassio conversation, wants Othello to give Cassio “nine years a-killing” (4.1. 167). Othello cares about his friend Cassio since he demotes him so that they mayor of Cyprus wouldn’t be out for him, but when Othello hears rumors that Cassio been sleeping with his wife he be comes angry. So when he confirms that to be true, he now wants to kill Cassio for nine years. Othello is able to redeem himself since he sees his tragic flaw. After Othello realize his flaw, when they must report back to the government he does not go and tells them to