Othello clearly has a position of power in the Venetian society. Shakespeare shows him as being successful and respected. Through dialogue and confrontation, Shakespeare shows the audience Othello's character "My parts, my title and my perfect soul" "keep up your bright swords for the due will rust them" and "were it my cue to fight I would know it without a prompter" are all indicative of Othello's confidence and standing within society. Shakespeare also demonstrates Othello's high standing through other characters "Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you," "your son-in-law is far more fair than black." clearly indicating that Othello is respected. Shakespeare not only shows us Othello's high social standing, but also his moral nature and character. Othello's trust "my life upon her faith" "good Iago" "honest Iago" is also shown through Desdemona "and but my noble moor is true of mind, and made of no such baseness as jealous creatures are" However, despite his high standing and moral, trusting nature, Othello has a tragic flaw in his character.
Othello's tragic flaw is pride. Shakespeare takes advantage of Othello's trust, "That thinks men honest that but seem to be so" through Iago. Dramatic irony is used to foreshadow the imminent disaster, as the audience is made aware of Iago's intentions through soliloquy "I hate the moor." "to abuse Othello's ears that he is too familiar with his wife" and due to his trust, Othello continues to believe Iago "I think thought dost: and for I know thou'rt full of love and honesty." His trust however, is not Othello's tragic flaw. Othello's state of hate and jealousy comes from his overwhelming pride, as this is the root of his jealousy. Iago's ironic comments "beware my lord of jealousy" "that cuckold lives in bliss, who certain of his fate, loves not his wronger" play on Othello's pride and love for his wife. Othello is inwardly torn between his suspicions of Desdemona and his love for her. Through the juxtaposition of contrasting images, Shakespeare shows the audience Othello's inner struggle. "A fine woman, a fair woman, a sweet woman" placed beside "let her rot and perish, and be damned tonight" and further contrasted with "the world hath not a sweeter creature" demonstrates Othello's inner conflict. Finally, Othello's pride overcomes him "I will chop her into messes: cuckold me?" Othello's pride is once again revealed in the soliloquy prior to Desdemona's death. Shakespeare uses this soliloquy to accentuate Othello's tragic pride. "Yet she must die else she betray more men" demonstrates that he is acting out of what he believes to be justice, for the salvation of pride. "that dost almost persuade justice to break her sword." Because of his tragic pride, Othello becomes a willing victim to circumstance.
Othello is a victim of circumstance. Shakespeare uses Iago's jealousy as an example of circumstance acting against Othello. Iago's hatred "I follow him to serve my turn upon him" is out of Othello's control. Iago perceives Othello's noble qualities "The Moor (howbeit that I endure him not), is of a constant, loving, noble nature" yet his selfish nature drives him "In following him, I follow but myself." Shakespeare makes frequent use of dramatic irony "Honest Iago" "And for I know thou'rt full of love and honesty." Othello is subtly manipulated by Iago "I hope you will consider what is spoke comes from my love" while slowly planting seeds of jealousy within Othello "beware my lord of jealousy." Further dramatic irony conveys Othello's suffering at the hand of circumstance. Manipulation of circumstance further drives Othello to madness "By heaven that should be my handkerchief" and this false prove drives him to madness "and be damned tonight, for she shall not live" Desdemona's constant promotion of Cassio's suit "this is a trick to put me from my suit" also acts against Othello. This is another example of dramatic irony, demonstrating the tragic series of circumstance conspiring against Othello. Iago makes use of sexual imagery "naked with her friend in bed" "with her? With her, on her what you will" to amplify the effect of circumstance, leading Othello to madness. This combination of circumstance all occurring outside of Othello's control contribute to the tragedy, and contribute to the eventual catharsis.
Catharsis is the final quality of tragedy. Shakespeare gradually builds pity for Othello. Through dramatic irony, the audience sympathizes with Othello's situation, as he is mislead by circumstance "I will be hang'd if some eternal villain hath not devised this slander." Through Othello's standing in society, Shakespeare conveys to the audience a sense of fear at his downfall. His noble and controlled nature "put up thy bright swords for the dew will rust them" is juxtaposed with his madness "I would have him nine years a-killing." Through violent imagery, "I'll chop her into messes" Shakespeare demonstrates the change in Othello, prompting fear within the audience. Desdemona's naivety further demonstrates the depth of Othello's error "Alack, my lord what do you mean" and dramatic irony "my love doth so approve him" causes further pity to arise within the audience. The audience feels fear at Othello's madness "my great revenge had stomach for them all" and yet pities him for he has been mislead "will as tenderly be led by th' nose as asses are." The climax of fear occurs when Othello kills his wife and dramatic irony is broken. Pity however returns to the audience upon Othello stating "But that I did proceed on just grounds" and his statement "of one that loved not wisely: but too well." The final catharsis is reached upon Othello's death "and smote him, thus" and as Othello is set free from his anguish, so is the audience. Lodovico's final speech is symbolic of the finality the audience experiences, and the final culmination of the tragedy.
Othello's character is an essential quality of tragedy as it presents him in a position of esteem, making his downfall more significant. The flaw in his character is an essential quality of tragedy, as without this flaw, his downfall would not occur. Othello's downfall occurs due to circumstance, another key quality of tragedy. Because of this, Othello is seen as a victim of circumstance, leading to the eventual catharsis of emotions upon his death. Othello's character, circumstance and the eventual catharsis of fear and pity are the qualities that make Othello a tragedy.
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