Othello as a Tragic Hero in Shakespeare's Play

Questions and Answers

He is relatively passive and reactionary, with his actions not driving the plot.

His eloquent words and valiant actions in battle.

Her pity and attention.

Assessing a person's strengths and turning them into weaknesses. Signup and view all the answers

She begins with strength and purpose, taking action to elope with Othello. Signup and view all the answers

His tendency to be a flirt and characterize women as Madonna's. Signup and view all the answers

He is desperate to woo Desdemona and believes Iago can help him. Signup and view all the answers

He can only regain his status as defender of the state by committing suicide. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Othello is an unusual tragic hero, relatively passive and reactionary, with his actions not driving the plot.
He is known as a man of action, a successful military leader, and eloquent words and valiant actions in battle have given him a reputation.

Othello wins Desdemona with his stories of adventure and his love is centered on her pity and attention.
He is more acted upon than an actor in the play, and in true tragic form, he can only regain his status as defender of the state by committing suicide.

Iago is the behind-the-scenes manipulator, declaring "I am NOT what I am" and leaving the audience wondering about his motivations.
He is masterful at assessing a person's strengths and turning them into weaknesses, exploiting Rodrigo's desire for Desdemona and his generosity with money.
He leverages Cassio's desire to please Othello and turns Desdemona's kindness to Cassio against both herself and Othello.
He keys in on Othello's love for Desdemona as the one weak point in Othello's character.

Desdemona begins the play with strength and purpose, falling in love with Othello and acting on her own to elope with him.
She is unwavering in her loyalty to Cassio, but her independent spirit and goodness are used against her by Iago.
Her actions on her deathbed are curious, taking the blame for her own death and meeting her death passively.

Michael Cassio has recently been appointed as Othello's second-in-command, opening him up to exploitation by Iago.
He is a flirt who tends to characterize women as Madonna's, and his flaws make him susceptible to Iago's manipulations.

Roderigo is wealthy and foolish, providing a steady flow of income to Iago who has promised to help him woo Desdemona.
His desperation makes him susceptible to Iago's manipulations, and he is eventually convinced to help kill Cassio.
Iago ultimately kills Roderigo.

Othello is an unusual tragic hero, passive and reactionary, with his actions not driving the plot.
He is a successful military leader, known for eloquent words and valiant actions in battle.
He wins Desdemona with his stories of adventure, and his love is centered on her pity and attention.

Iago is the behind-the-scenes manipulator, declaring "I am NOT what I am".
He is masterful at assessing a person's strengths and turning them into weaknesses.
He exploits Rodrigo's desire for Desdemona and his generosity with money.
He leverages Cassio's desire to please Othello and turns Desdemona's kindness to Cassio against both herself and Othello.
He keys in on Othello's love for Desdemona as the one weak point in Othello's character.

Desdemona begins the play with strength and purpose, falling in love with Othello and acting on her own to elope with him.
She is unwavering in her loyalty to Cassio.
Her independent spirit and goodness are used against her by Iago.
She takes the blame for her own death and meets her death passively.

Michael Cassio has recently been appointed as Othello's second-in-command, opening him up to exploitation by Iago.
He is a flirt who tends to characterize women as Madonna's.
His flaws make him susceptible to Iago's manipulations.

Roderigo is wealthy and foolish, providing a steady flow of income to Iago who has promised to help him woo Desdemona.
His desperation makes him susceptible to Iago's manipulations.
He is eventually convinced to help kill Cassio.
Iago ultimately kills Roderigo.