Thursday, August 15, 2019
Tragedy involves the downfall of a hero as a result of his tragic flaw Essay
It is not simply the existence of a tragic flaw that is the sole causation of the demise of the hero and other significant characters but rather the interplay between the negative externalities and the heroââ¬â¢s actions as a result of his tragic flaws which does so. In Shakespeareââ¬â¢s Elizabethan tragedy Othello, Othelloââ¬â¢s hamartia arises from a magnified sense of jealousy, hubris and misplaced trust brought about directly by Iagoââ¬â¢s diabolical intellect and a growing sense of insecurity. It is these uncontrollable factors in conjunction with Othelloââ¬â¢s tragic flaws that assist in his collapse from respected general to deluded murderer. The complex interactions between the protagonists of the play as well as strong characterisation allow for the emergence of one of Othelloââ¬â¢s fatal flaws, misplaced trust. The Machiavellian character of Iago perpetuates the tragedy of the play by provoking hamartia within Othello. As soon as the play commences dramatic irony allows us to realise that Othello has labelled Iago, whom we know to be ââ¬Å"Janus-facedâ⬠and deceptive, ââ¬Å"I am not what I amâ⬠, as ââ¬Å"a man of exceeding honestyâ⬠. The constant declarations of Iago that he ââ¬Å"hates the moorâ⬠are juxtaposed with the repeated description of an ââ¬Å"honest Iagoâ⬠in order to build up empathy for Othello. Iagoââ¬â¢s ability to take advantage of peopleââ¬â¢s flaws and situations when they arise also allows him to manipulate Othelloââ¬â¢s, ââ¬Å"free and open natureâ⬠through the ââ¬Å"pour[ing] pestilence into the ear of the Moorâ⬠and provide evidence through the planting of Desdemonaââ¬â¢s handkerchief , a symbol of the love between Othello and Desdemona, in ââ¬Å"Cassioââ¬â¢s lodgingsâ⬠. His use of innuendo, ââ¬Å"note if your lady strain his entertainmentâ⬠¦much will be seen in thatâ⬠and bestial imagery and similes, ââ¬Å"were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeyâ⬠enrage Othello and spur him to condemn Desdemona as a ââ¬Å"fair devilâ⬠. Iagoââ¬â¢s deceitful brilliance further leads Othello, ââ¬Å"a credulous foolâ⬠, to accept his lies about Cassioââ¬â¢s dream, where Cassio sighs ââ¬Å"Sweet Desdemona, let us be wary, let us hide our lovesâ⬠, as a ââ¬Å"foregone conclusionâ⬠. The innocent references to Cassio as ââ¬Å"suitorâ⬠by Desdemona in conjunction with Cassioââ¬â¢s light-hearted references to Desdemona as ââ¬Å"divine Desdemonaâ⬠and ââ¬Å"a maid thatà paragons description and wild fameâ⬠further aid Iago in both winning Othelloââ¬â¢s trust and eliminating it from his loved ones. Iagoââ¬â¢s strong characterisation acts as a foil to the main protagonists in Othello and in conjunction with dramatic irony and bestial imagery serves in bringing out Othelloââ¬â¢s tragic flaw of misplaced trust. The increasing insecurity of Othello, arising from a constant need to assimilate into Venetian culture and fight the label of ââ¬ËOutsiderââ¬â¢, weakens his trust in Desdemona and consequently allows for jealousy to take over. Othello, set in 15th century Venice, reflects the disparaging perspective of Italians to those of sub-Saharan ethnicity. Despite proving himself a ââ¬Å"braveâ⬠and ââ¬Å"valiantâ⬠warrior who is ââ¬Å"more fair than blackâ⬠, Othello is never referred to by name instead derogatorily labelled ââ¬Å"the Moorâ⬠, ââ¬Å"thicklipsâ⬠and ââ¬Å"black ramâ⬠, the use of animal imagery degrades Othelloââ¬â¢s status and immediately sets him apart as ââ¬ËThe Outsiderââ¬â¢. Iago, in a bid to ââ¬Å"serve his turn upon [Othello]â⬠, ââ¬Å"pour[s] pestilenceâ⬠into Othelloââ¬â¢s ear remarking that Desdemona rejected many ââ¬Å"proposed matches of her own clime, complexion and degreeâ⬠in choosing Othello. The subtle reminders of Iago about his ethnicity cause Othello to turn against his gut instincts, ââ¬Å"she had eyes and choseâ⬠and wrongly believe that Desdemona ââ¬Å" with Cassio hath the act of shame a thousand times committedâ⬠. The hyperbole accentuates Othelloââ¬â¢s misapprehension in his insecure rage. His delusion furthermore acts as canvas through which first self-depreciation; ââ¬Å"her name is now black and begrimed as my own faceâ⬠then jealousy, ââ¬Å"that green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds onâ⬠arises. The metaphor of a green-eyed monster is apt in foreshadowing and presenting to the responders the inner turmoil and eventual monstrous transformation Othello undergoes. Unable to satisfy the ââ¬Å"lewd minxâ⬠whom Othello believes the young, Italian Cassio has ââ¬Å"toppââ¬â¢dâ⬠, his jealousy drives him to want to ââ¬Å"tear her all to pieceâ⬠, reflecting the ââ¬Å"monstrous birthâ⬠of a new Othello . Thus were it not for the seeds of insecurity already planted in Othelloââ¬â¢s mind Othelloââ¬â¢s jealousy, one of his tragic flaws, could have been avoided. It is the self-perpetuating nature of Insecurity that ultimately brings about Othelloââ¬â¢s tragic flaw and subsequently his downfall. Othelloââ¬â¢s adherence to his warrior values and accepted gender role is the main catalyst for his last tragic flaw, hubris. Othelloââ¬â¢s background as a ââ¬Å"braveâ⬠and ââ¬Å"valiantâ⬠soldier experienced through numerous ââ¬Å"battles, sieges and dangersâ⬠instil in him values of courage, pride and insensitivity towards death. It is this background which also sees him more familiar with actions than words. At his return to Cyprus he ââ¬Å"cannot speak enough of this contentâ⬠but can act and promptly kisses her there, thus Othello is the foil to Iago, whoââ¬â¢s cunning with words ignite the flame of Othelloââ¬â¢s pride and unleashes ââ¬Å"waked wrathâ⬠. Iagoââ¬â¢s knowledge of the nature of gender is revealed through his quote, ââ¬Å"Good name in man and woman, dear my lord, is the immediate jewel of their soulsâ⬠and it is through Iagoââ¬â¢s intimate knowledge of the importance Othello places on gender roles in assisting hi m in his assimilation into Venetian society, that he is able to inspire ââ¬Å"monstrousâ⬠hubris within Othello. By insinuating Desdemona as a ââ¬Å"whoreâ⬠and ââ¬Å"strumpetâ⬠, Iago is able to incite Othello into murdering Desdemona, ââ¬Å"If I quench thee..I can again thy former light restoreâ⬠thus bringing about catharsis and the downfall of Othello. Thus Othelloââ¬â¢s last fatal flaw, hubris, a remnant of his soldier ethos causes him to believe that honour may only be restored through the correction of gender roles and in doing so brings about his downfall. It can therefore be concluded that although the tragic flaw plays a large part in the inciting of the heroââ¬â¢s tragic flaws, it is the interaction between the context, characters and the heroââ¬â¢s actions which ultimately brings about his demise. In Othello the foil of Iago in conjunction with the innocent nuances of other characters, dramatic irony and Othelloââ¬â¢s insecurity which gives rise to his fatal flaws of jealousy, misplaced trust and hubris and it is only through the interplay between elements that catharsis and agnorisus can occur.
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