Othello’s Heroism :: Othello essays

Othellos poor boyism Shakespeares tragedy Othello treats the audience to considerable heroism, non only from the hero and heroine but also from unexpected reputations. Kenneth Muir, in the Introduction to William Shakespeare Othello, explains how the consensus of the characters in the period of play testify to the heroism of the general The testimony of on the whole the main characters in the play is decisive. Brabantio loved him Lodovico speaks of him as the noble Moor once so good Cassio, who has good cause to hate him, addresses him as Dear oecumenical and speaks his epitaph he was great of heart. The Duke declares that he is more fair than black. Montano is blithe to hear of Othellos appointment as Governor. But the most material testimony to Othellos character comes from the one man who hates him. Iago confesses that the state Cannot with guard duty cast him because Another of his fathom they have none. (29) A characters attitude toward the most fearful foe death itself is in spades a criterion for judging a heroic type from a non-heroic type. Helen Gardner in Othello A Tragedy of Beauty and Fortune considers Iagos wife Emilia to be a true hero of the play because of her gay outlook on death itself Emilias silence musical composition her mistress lived is fully explicable in terms of her character. She shares with her husband the generalizing put-on and is well used to domestic scenes. The wishful, she knows, are not ever jealous for the cause But jealous for they are jealous. If it was not the handkerchief it would be something else. Why disobey her husband and risk his fury? It would not do any good. This is what men are like. But Desdemona dead sweeps away all such generalities and all caution. At this sight, Emilia though the world is a huge thing finds that there is a thing she will not do for it. By her heroic disregard for death she gives the only certainty there can be of Desdemonas innocence the testimony of faith. (145 ) At the outset of the play Iago persuades the rejected suitor of Desdemona, Roderigo, to accompany him to the home of Brabantio, Desdemonas father, in the middle of the night. Once there the two awaken the senator with thundery shouts about his daughters elopement with Othello.