EAC 150 Research Essay: Fictional literary work (Essay Sample)

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Fictional literary work
Othello is a tragedy because the events defining how characters are relating and interacting with one another are tragic in nature. It concerns with problems such as family strife, intimate relationships, unhappy marriages (between Iago and Emily) and betrayals. The characters are in Cyprus in order to fight a war. Nevertheless, they do not focus on fighting war. The major challenge the protagonist is facing concerns with issues of love. Women are not determined to participate in war, though their presence caused the fall of Iago and Othello. The protagonist’s background is neither from a noble hero nor a kingship of high birth. He serves an army general, but his official duties stop when domestic problems begin. The characters perform their roles but move toward destruction with narrow escapes. The theme of tragedy can be manifested in the play; therefore this paper tries to justify why the play is tragic.
The theme of tragedy is evident in the play, which presents the downfall of the protagonist (Othello), a legendary personality in the Italian community. The fall happens due to internal and external forces, particularly of Othello’s own tragic flaw and the deaths of various characters. Othello is an admirable character, but his fall arouses fear and pity. He is trusting, but he is jealous. Othello falls because of an external force (Iago’s hatred) working harmoniously with his own envious (tragic flaw) to ruin the life of his wife and also to kill himself. Because of his pride, the heroic character comes to realize his unfortunate mistakes when it is too late. The theme of tragedy can be seen as the consequences of racism and jealousy. Othello is a character with a serious flaw (furious jealousy). Othello’s tragedy has something to do with his suspicion that all women are promiscuous and secondly his fear that he is a black person and, therefore, he is not good enough to afford living with his white wife. Jealousy is caused by mere evidence, which ruins lives. Othello succumbs to envy when Iago simply tells him that Desdemona is an unfaithful woman. Othello eventually kills his wife and also kills himself. Shakespeare and Holste opine that it becomes interesting to see that Iago uses jealousy to finish Othello; however jealousy is the source of hatred that begins to disturb Iago (273). Jealousy takes place in several ways such as through sexual suspicion and through professional competition, which all lead to destructive acts.
Othello serves as a military general and due to his senior position; most people in the Italian community and even the government respect him (Bhattacharyya 249). Nevertheless, Iago is an antagonist who works to ensure Othello‘s downfall. Because of his jealous and resentful personality, Iago constructs Othello’s downfall. He feels that Othello disappointed him because Othello promoted Cassio to serve as a lieutenant instead of him. Roderigo hates Othello since Othello is in a relationship with Desdemona, who is now Othello’s wife. Brabantio also hates Othello because Othello married his daughter without his consent. Regardless of Othello’s bold leadership, he is ruined by Brabantio’s, Roderigo’s, and Iago’s conviction about Othello’s national origin (race). This is because Othello’s national origin is based on North Africa; he is a Moor. Due to his race, Italians; therefore, often scrutinize Othello’s personality. Othello is a powerful person in the country, although his black-skinned race exposes him to some form of overt racism (Woodman 46). Brabantio believes that the interracial marriage of his daughter only occurred due to Othello’s trickery. Othello’s racial identity is undesirable; as a result, he lacks confidence in himself, which enables Iago to convince him that Desdemona is unfaithful to him. Most male characters believe that all Venetian women are naturally promiscuous, even though there is no substantial evidence to prove that (Kolin 49). Iago finds it quite easy to convince Othello with negative a view of sexuality. This justifies why female sexuality is a big threat to male characters found in the play. Othello is easily persuaded that his wife is unfaithful on him, and consequently he feels humiliated and rendered powerless. Both Emilia and Desdemona are unfairly accused of infidelity and are all murdered by their envious husbands. The marriage has been a source of death. Provided that men view women as unfaithful and promiscuous, the marriage institution is doomed. Iago’s deception has been a tool that orchestrates destructions in the play. His deception has been potent due to his cleverness and patience, and he used this to revenge against Othello. Hatred is the cause of a lasting rage in the play. Tragedy is influenced by hatred. Iago comes to hate Othello, and he remains determined to finish his boss. He develops anger because Othello did not promote him as he wanted; he also becomes jealousy when he thinks that Othello is having an affair with his wife (Emilia). Iago’s hatred is a self-propelling passion that forces itself without a consequence of any substantial action (Shakespeare 152). Iago becomes a force, which converts everything into its opposite, and love eventually becomes hatred.
Some people feel that Othello is not best person to marry the Desdemona. Nevertheless, Desdemona loves Othello unconditionally. She loses her father’s love as a consequence of loving Othello. Othello’s main weakness is envious that made him felt insecure and doubt. He becomes suspicious and doubts his marriage relationship with his wife. Envious convinces Othello that his wife has become unfaithful to him. He no longer trusts his lov...