How Is Othello A Tragic Hero

In the Shakespearean play “The Tragedy of Othello”, the tragic yet ironic humor conveys the different aspects of an english tragedy. One of its works is the noticeable flaws of our hero, Othello, who consequently has the characteristics of a Tragic hero. A Tragic hero is a character who makes errors, emotionally and physically that inevitably leads to their demise. A tragic hero must be of noble blood, have hamartia or tragic flaw, hubris or the excessive amount of pride and disrespect for the natural order, peripeteia or change in fate, anagnorisis or the moment a hero makes an important discovery, nemesis or the punishment received because of his/her hubris, and finally catharsis or the pity or fear received from the audience as the hero
reaches his/her downfall. Following these characteristics, Othello has major flaws that are easily depicted such as his gullibility as he is effortlessly manipulated by Iago, and his immense jealousy as he doesn't believe his own wife's truth and believes instead the “honest” Iago. One major flaw of Othello is how gullible he is, he is manipulated from the very beginning by Iago.
He would whisper in his ear of the false misdeeds between Cassio, his lieutenant and Desdemona, his wife. Such as from the line that starts,”...Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio; Wear your eyes thus: not jealous nor secure. I would not have your free and noble nature out of self-bounty be abused.” As said by Iago, his goal is to ensnare Othello in a web of lies and insecurity towards his wife and comrade. As Othello says “What sense had I of her stol’n hours of lust? I saw’t not, thought it not, it harmed not me; I slept the next night well, fed well, was free and merry; I found not Cassio’s kisses on her lips. He that is robbed, not wanting what is stol’n, let him not know’t, and he’s not robbed at all.” Further shows the audience how Othello is doubting himself and those around him as he still keeps going to Iago for council. Iago’s “council” is what feed the doubts of Othello whose gullibleness makes him profound to the “green monster,” or
jealousy. Furthermore, as Othello lets himself to be led by Iago, he becomes not only doubtful and gullible, he also becomes aggressive and jealous when dealing with his wife.
“I do beseech you一Though I perchance am vicious in my guess, as I confess it is my nature’s plague to spy into abuses, and of my jealousy shapes faults that are not一that your wisdom then, from one that so imperfectly conceits would take no notice, nor build yourself a trouble out of his scattering and unsure observance. It were not for your quiet nor your good, nor for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom, to let you know my thoughts.” This type of thinking and behavior ruins Othello’s mental state causing him to physically react by having an epilepsy attacks. As he is focusing on how unbelievable it is to think Desdemona is sleeping with another man.”It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul. Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars. It is the cause. Yet I’ll not shed her blood, nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow, and smooth as monumental alabaster. Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men. Put out the light, and then put out the light. If I quench thee, thou flaming minister, I can again thy former light restore, should I repent me;” He is far gone in rage, all he can think about is killing Desdemona and
Cassio. Finally the tragic Shakespearean of the Moor Othello is the example of how the gullibleness of man and jealousy in an extreme aggressive form, can destroy even the most well mannered person and those around them.