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Foreshadowing
Genre
Explanation and Analysis:
Othello is a classic example of a Shakespearean tragedy. The action centres around a noble hero, Othello, brought down by a tragic flaw, in this case jealousy, and ends in mass death. At the beginning of the play, Othello’s honor and honesty are repeatedly emphasized, with him being presented as a well-liked man of good repute. However, Othello soon makes a mistake in trusting Iago’s deceit about the infidelity of his wife, and therein lies his tragic error. Othello’s over-trusting nature, along with his capacity for jealousy, constitute his hamartia, a word derived from Greek which refers to a noble character’s "fatal flaw." Othello’s consequent rashness and violence—which ends in the deaths of Desdemona, Emilia, Cassio, and himself—forms the climax of his tragic downfall.
Related Themes:
