Does Othello Meet The Standards Of A Tragic Hero

Aaron Anderson Instructor Jason Hancock World Literature I 5 May 2015 Does Othello Meet the Standards of a Tragic Hero? William Shakespeare is considered one of the greatest play writers who ever lived. Students throughout the United States continue to read his sonnets and plays today. His style of writing and his use of metaphors are what truly make him a great writer. Shakespeare wrote many comedies such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado about Nothing, and The Taming of the Shrew. Shakespeare also wrote many tragedies such as Macbeth, Hamlet, and Romeo and Juliet. Many of Shakespeare’s tragedies contain a protagonist who is also a tragic hero. In order to determine whether or not a character is a tragic hero, one must find out what the qualities of a tragic hero are. According to Pepperdine University, a tragic hero must have noble stature, a tragic flaw, and free choice. The tragic hero must also suffer punishment he did not deserve, and have increased awareness (â€Å"The Characteristics of an Archetypal Tragic Hero†). Oth ello meets all of the qualifications in order to be a tragic hero. He had noble stature, a tragic flaw, and he had free choice. His punishment exceeded the crime, and his awareness increased before he had his downfall. Othello as well as other tragic heroes had a prestigious position. It is highly important for the character to have a great position to fall from to be a tragic hero, and his downfall must affect everyone in society as well (â€Å"TheShow MoreRelatedOthello: The Tragedy of an Aristotelian Tragic Hero Essay1531 Words   |  7 PagesShakespeares play, â€Å"Othello, the Moor of Venice,† is a powerful example of a tragedy and it’s main character, Othello, is an excellent illustration of what Aristotle constitutes as a tragic hero. The play imitates life through basic human emotions such as jealousy and rage. 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