Tragedy

Tragedy

1. Greek tragedy is based on conflict and depicts the downfall of high-ranking characters

   • Fatal errors of judgement (harmartia) due to excessive pride (hubis)
     • Overambitious marrying Desdemona?
     • Overreaches himself trying to combine roles of husband and soldier?
     • Too proud and self-satisfied?
       • He feels 'too much joy' when he arrives in Cyprus
   • Strong element of fate
     • The tragic hero dies fighting against this
   • At the end justice and order is restored and a new status quo is established

2. Based by negative impulses and emotions- envy, hatred, lust and personal ambition

   • Conflict in Othello's mind, whether he loves of hates Desdemona
     • Drives him to murder, the tragic protagonists own demise

3. Othello is the first black hero in English drama

4. Iago's dominance is unusual; the villain and hero have equal stage presence and are both powerful speakers

   • In most Jacobean tragedies the villain dies as part of the process of catharsis