TRAGIC HEROS
William Shakespeare has artfully crafted some of the most prominent tragic heroes of all time. One of the greatest being Othello. Othello is a tragic hero because of his noble traits, tragic flaws, and tragic downfall.
For someone to be a tragic hero, they must first be a noble character. Othello can be considered a noble character because he has a high social ranking, and he has a genuine heart. Despite coming from a rough past, Othello is an honorable war hero and the general of the Venetian army.
Along with his social stature, Othello also has a noble heart. Although he is sometimes portrayed as violent, Othello’s loving nature can be seen in instances such as when he speaks about Desdemona.
These traits are greatly admired among the characters of Othello, including Iago. He admits that Othello is “of a constant loving, noble nature [and] will prove to Desdemona A most dear husband” (2.1.290-292). Othello’s nobility is quite evident. However, he does have traits that can be viewed as tragic flaws.
Othello is a tragic hero because of his tragic flaw. There are many undesirable traits in Othello, like his jealousy and gullibility. However, the core of these problems and his main tragic flaw is his insecurities. Othello is the only black character and an outsider in Venice, brings upon many insecurities.
His vulnerability makes him an easy target for Iago to manipulate his mind; he begins to believe that he isn’t good enough for Desdemona: “She’s gone, I am abused, and my relief Must be to loathe her.
Oh, the curse of marriage That we can call these delicate creatures ours And not their appetites!” (3.3.283-286). Iago was easily able to convince Othello that Desdemona has been unfaithful. However, Othello doesn’t realize his insecurities have taken over his life until it is too late, and his tragic downfall has already hit rock bottom.
What makes Othello a tragic hero is he experiences a tragic downfall. Othello’s downfall is set into motion when the jealous Iago begins planting seeds of doubt into Othello’s already insecure mind. Iago’s manipulative words convince Othello that his wife is unfaithful; he begins to lose his noble traits from then on.
He treats his wife with little to no respect and eventually smothers her to death. When Iago’s plot is finally unveiled, and Othello realizes his terrible mistake, it is evident he has reached his emotional limit: “Whip me, ye devils, From the possession of this heavenly sight! Blow me about in winds, roast me in sulfur, Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire!—Oh, Desdemona! Desdemona! dead! Oh! Oh!” (5.2.286-290).
In his troubled state of mind and with his broken heart, Othello decides to kill himself. With one fatal stab, this hero’s tale comes to a tragic end.
Othello is a tragic hero because he is noble, he suffers from a fatal tragic flaw, and he goes through a tragic downfall. All these traits that Othello exhibits lead him to be known as one of the most well-known tragic heroes in all of literature.
How is he a tragic hero?
As a speaker to the people, he spoke with charisma as well as a strong emotion. Naming Martin Luther a tragic hero is fitting because he made a huge impact on segregation’s controversial topic. Without his leadership, America could still be segregated today.
Martin Luther’s downfall
Background
Tragic Flaw
Martin Luther King Jr. is probably one of the most well-known leaders of the Civil Rights movement. His ultimate goal, which he succeeded, was to end racial segregation and discrimination against blacks and whites in America.
Martin Luther’s drive to end discrimination led to his downfall. Anti-segregation groups that were threatened by Martin Luther’s plan eventually led to his assassination.
To be a tragic hero, you must have a tragic flaw. In this case, I believe Martin Luther’s tragic flaw was his deeply-rooted determination to establish equality. His charisma moved the African Americans to feel equal and to feel as if they deserve better.
Conclusion
Although Martin Luther suffered a horrible death, works like “Letter to Birmingham Jail” and other speeches he made changed the world as we see it today. His determination to end discrimination stands alongside bravery; Martin Luther King Jr. is a tragic hero.
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