When discussing the characteristics of Othello one finds he has more than one side. Othello is a tragic hero in this drama. Also, he portrays a man with much greatness. Consequently, Othello has many weaknesses. In order to truly understand the character of Othello, one must understand him as a tragic hero with both greatness and weakness. A tragic hero is the main character in a play that takes a downfall or is ruined during the play. Undoubtedly, Othello is ruined during the course of this Shakespearean drama.
In the beginning of the play his life is in order, as e was married to the beautiful Desdemona, the younger daughter of a well respected Senator, Brabantio. However, Othello was a Moor, and their marriage was frowned upon. Iago had an evil plot to bring Othello down, because he was in love with Desdemona when the Moor stole her heart. Iago causes Othello to turn against his wife, and have jealous rages that caused her much despair and grief. This is concurrent with the persona of a tragic hero. In the end, Iago brings Othello down just as he planned.
The reader must realize that without his downfall, Othello couldnt be considered ragic, henceforth there would be no moral one could take from the play. Othello is very characteristic of a tragic hero. Othello is also a man that shows much greatness throughout the drama. Throughout his adult life he has been acclaimed for his many conquests throughout the land. He shows greatness through his love for Desdemona. For instance, But that I love the gentle Desdemona, I would not my unhoused free condition put into circumscription and confine for the seas worth, Othello said when referring to his affection and true feelings for Desdemona.
Othello was very remarkable when discussing his love for Desdemona. Throughout the play Othello, its main character shows much weakness. Much of this weakness channels from Iago, the villain of the script. Othello himself addresses his own frailty when he describes himself as an honorable murderer; as one that loved not wisely but too well. Othellos belief of Iagos every statement grew critical when Iago accused Desdemona of losing the handkerchief his mother gave him. Once again Iago had won an intellectual battle with Othello.
Subsequently, Iago onvinced Othello that Cassio, his devoted and loyal lieutenant, was stealing his wife. Upon hearing this account from Iago, Othello immediately ordered Cassio massacred. This also showed a lacking in his decision making process. Othellos weaknesses centered around Iagos plot to bring him down. Without question, Othello is one of the more interesting and multidimensional personas we have studied to date. Othello was a perfect example of a tragic hero, he had an abundance of greatness, and he coupled that with twice as much weakness. Othello was a great character in this Shakespearean dramatic tragedy.