Paper Topic:
othello
FORMALIST CRITIQUE - OTHELLO Othello was written between 1602 and 1604 . It was performed in the court in the autumn of 1604 . The plot was borrowed from Geraldi Cinthio 's collection of tales Hecatommithi (1565 Othello is probably the most tragic of Shakespeare 's tragic plays , even more so than Romeo and Juliet . Othello is arguably the most tragic of Shakespeare 's tragic heroes and the mystic element of this tragedy lies in the fact that at many times in the play , the tragedy could have been averted but it was not
to be and the tragic ending was as if pre destined even though Iago 's skillful planning was worth noticing
The term tragic hero was coined much before Shakespeare made it a household term in the 1500 's . the idea of a tragic hero was first explained in Aristotle 's Poetics . This book attempts to theorize the complex experience of a tragedy . There are some characteristics of a tragic hero or heroine which Aristotle has underlined in this book . Othello fits the perfectly and maybe more than any other tragic hero . Let us see how
According to the theory of catharsis , tragic heroes were noble characters yet had a very human personality . Thus , the common man was able to identify with them (which was imperative for the experience of a tragedy ) and were also able to look up to them for their virtues and goodness . Othello is one of his kind in Venice as Iago himself points out at the start of the play Another of his fathom they have /To lead their business (Act 1 , scene (i , 153-154 . He is a noble man who has grace with ladies and is an able military general . He is reliable and everyone hears when he speaks . His valiant personality draws people to him and this is the cause of Desdemona 's love for him . she gave me for my pains a world of sighs (Act I , scene (iii , 158 . The duke of Venice and the other noblemen also hold him in high esteem due to his prowess as a soldier and as a general and save him from Brabantio 's wrath and baseless accusations of practicing witchcraft . They defend him by saying that If virtue no delighted beauty lack / Your son-in-law is far more fair than black (Act 1 , scene (iii , 285-286 . Othello has lived a hard life full of torments and tortures and adventures which a common man would rather not have . He tells us so himself when he recounts his experiences in front of the Duke and the court Of moving accidents by flood and field / Of hair breadth scapes i 'th imminent deadly breach (Act I , scene (iii , 134-135 . All these hard experiences have made him tough and he is a great soldier . His physical appearance is not too pleasing as he is often referred to as black , thick lipped by Iago and Roderigo . But where he loses in appearance he more than makes up for...
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