How Does Shakespeare Present Hamartia
“Compare the ways in which Shakespeare and Browning present characters with hamartia in Othello and a selection of poetry. To what extent does this give the text a sense of catharsis at the end?”
The term 'hamartia' in this context is a reference to a flaw in a protagonist's character, either because of his natural attributes, a sin committed by the character, his ignorance or naivety, or a misunderstanding. This results in the “hero” committing an unfixable error, which may result in his downfall. Due to this, the character becomes self-destructive, and also destroys others in the process. The hero becomes an anti-hero or a villain.
Both Shakespeare and Browning present a development of their main character’s hamartia throughout their texts. …show more content…
The protagonists admit their crimes and take responsibility for their actions, even if it is in their own unique ways. Alternatively Browning presents a different type of speaker in My Last Duchess, whose hamartia is he who believes he is not guilty of his crimes and choose not to admit them leaving the readers to be his only judge.. Overall, each text may have their similarities and differences which will be explored in detail, but the main link each text has is how women were second class citizens in a misogynistic and patriarchal society.
In Shakespeare's play, Othello, the protagonist does not have one flaw only - he possesses many weaknesses which, all combined, result in his journey into emotional instability, madness and eventual destruction. Othello firstly suffers from insecurity: he is insecure about being an outsider in Venice. Secondly, he is concerned about the age-difference between himself and Desdemona. Thirdly, he has doubts about his beautiful young wife's loyalty to him. Her father had also warned him that she had betrayed him and might do the same to Othello. Othello's honesty is apparent when he admits that he has married Desdemona but he is …show more content…
“Yet, she must die, else she’ll betray more men.” He is trying to convince himself to murder his beloved wife for a perceived greater good. It should be noted that hamartia is their own flaw which brings to their downfall. This is why Iago was not present at the time, so it was 100% Othello’s decision. Nonetheless, anagnorisis takes places in which Othello makes a discovery that produces a change from ignorance to knowledge. The true identity of Othello is revealed and he can’t bear with the deception, so he makes the ultimate decision…
The term 'hamartia' in this context is a reference to a flaw in a protagonist's character, either because of his natural attributes, a sin committed by the character, his ignorance or naivety, or a misunderstanding. This results in the “hero” committing an unfixable error, which may result in his downfall. Due to this, the character becomes self-destructive, and also destroys others in the process. The hero becomes an anti-hero or a villain.
Both Shakespeare and Browning present a development of their main character’s hamartia throughout their texts. …show more content…
The protagonists admit their crimes and take responsibility for their actions, even if it is in their own unique ways. Alternatively Browning presents a different type of speaker in My Last Duchess, whose hamartia is he who believes he is not guilty of his crimes and choose not to admit them leaving the readers to be his only judge.. Overall, each text may have their similarities and differences which will be explored in detail, but the main link each text has is how women were second class citizens in a misogynistic and patriarchal society.
In Shakespeare's play, Othello, the protagonist does not have one flaw only - he possesses many weaknesses which, all combined, result in his journey into emotional instability, madness and eventual destruction. Othello firstly suffers from insecurity: he is insecure about being an outsider in Venice. Secondly, he is concerned about the age-difference between himself and Desdemona. Thirdly, he has doubts about his beautiful young wife's loyalty to him. Her father had also warned him that she had betrayed him and might do the same to Othello. Othello's honesty is apparent when he admits that he has married Desdemona but he is …show more content…
“Yet, she must die, else she’ll betray more men.” He is trying to convince himself to murder his beloved wife for a perceived greater good. It should be noted that hamartia is their own flaw which brings to their downfall. This is why Iago was not present at the time, so it was 100% Othello’s decision. Nonetheless, anagnorisis takes places in which Othello makes a discovery that produces a change from ignorance to knowledge. The true identity of Othello is revealed and he can’t bear with the deception, so he makes the ultimate decision…