Hamartia in Shakespeare's Othello (Aristotle's Poetics)

 Hello everyone 😊 ,

This blog is based on the bridge course, assigned by Prof. Dilip Barad Sir . This blog provides you a brief information about great tragedy of Shakespeare "Othello" and rules and regulations of tragedies given by Aristotle.

# Introduction :

 

Here I present the answers to two of the questions that were given to us under the Bridge course ,And those questions are as follows :

4. Have you studied any tragedies during B.A. programme? Who was/were the tragic protagonist/s in those tragedies? What was their 'hamartia'?

And 

5. Did the 'Plot' of those tragedies follow necessary rules and regulations proposed by Aristotle? (Like chain of cause and effect, principle of probability and necessity, harmonious arrangement of incidents, complete, certain magnitude, unity of action etc).

Answer:

Yes, I have studied one tragedy during B.A.programme, and it was Shakespeare's great tragedy, "Othello".

So let's dive into it...

About the Tragedy : Othello by William Shakespeare :

Othello :

Othello (full title: The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice) is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, probably in 1603. The story revolves around two characters, Othello and Iago.

Othello is one of the most famous plays among Shakespearean tragedies. It has a verity of themes: Love, jealousy, racism, prejudice, appearance and reality, possessiveness, intrigue, betrayal, etc. Unlike other Shakespearean tragedies, King Lear, Macbeth, and Hamlet, Othello is a pure domestic tragedy as it deals with domestic issues of a married couple: the husband’s jealousy and the wife’s ignorance that lead to demise and bloodshed at the end.

Character list :

Major Characters :

• Othello:

The protagonist of the play. Othello is the general of the army of Venice, a Christian Moor who earned the respect of others. He is seen as a powerful, honest and straightforward figure. However, his age and race make him an easy target for the evil plots of his ensign Iago.

• Desdemona :

The daughter of the Venetian senator Brabantio. Later in the play, Othello’s wife. She is a young, intelligent, and independent woman. She is fully capable of defending her marriage and responding to Othello’s jealousy.

• Iago :

   Othello's Ensign and the play's main villain. He wants revenge, but for what he doesn't say. He says it's because he was given the lieutenant position and someone else got it. But sometimes he says something else. It's like he's enjoying taking advantage of people and hurting them.

 Other Characters :

• Emilia :

  Emilia is Iago’s wife and works as Desdemona’s maid when they travel to Cyprus.

• Brabantio :

Brabantio is Desdemona’s father and an important senator in Venice.

• Cassio :

Cassio has just been promoted to lieutenant by Othello and is loyal to him.

• Bianca:

Bianca is a young woman who is in love with Cassio.

• Roderigo:

Roderigo is young and rich. He wants to marry Desdemona and is friends with Iago.

Tragic protagonist of the story : 

Othello:

Othello is the protagonist of the play. His fatal flaw is his jealousy, which is ignited by Iago, the villain of the play. This noble man meets with tragedy by falling prey to Iago’s temptations and believing that his wife is unfaithful to him.

What is " Hamartia" ?

Hamartia is a literary term with two definitions: a fatal mistake or a fatal flaw . A hamartia is something that causes a character's downfall.

What was Hamartia of "Othello" ? :

In the play “Othello”, by William Shakespeare, Othello’s hamartia is his jealousy. This jealousy causes Othello to become irrational and easily mislead. 

Othello trusted the evil Iago, who was determined to bring about his own downfall. Iago convinced Othello of the affair between Michael Cassio and Desdemona. Othello’s jealousy was fueled by self-doubt, low self-esteem, and the fact that he was an aging foreigner, not very refined or attractive. Othello was initially unconvinced, but he demanded proof of his wife’s infidelity. 

Iago then tells Othello he heard Cassio in his sleep talking about his relations with his wife Desdemona. The handkerchief Othello had given Desdemona became significant when she didn’t have it anymore. Iago used the missing handkerchief to convince Othello that his wife was unfaithful. 

Unfortunately, Othello was unable to see his wife as infidelity and killed her out of jealousy.

Did the 'Plot' of those tragedies follow necessary rules and regulations proposed by Aristotle?

Yes, the 'Plot' of Othello follows the necessary rules and regulations proposed by Aristotle.

While writing plot of Othello Shakespeare, followed Aristotle's guidelines for tragedy in his play Othello. Othello revolves around the tragic hero Othello whose tragic flaw turns him from a noble man into a villainous monster that will eventually lead him to ruin. This transformation follows the natural progression of the intricate plot from the beginning to the middle to the end while maintaining the tragic hero's consistency and realism. As the play progresses, the audience empathizes with the tragic hero and fears for themselves as they witness what is happening on stage. Because Othello follows the guidelines set out in Aristotle's Poetics, it can be considered one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies.

The chain of cause and effect of Othello :

Aristotle's rules for tragedy, outlined in his work "Poetics," emphasize the concept of a tragic hero and the chain of cause and effect that leads to their downfall. Let's see the chain of cause and effect in Shakespeare's play "Othello," following Aristotle's principles :

Hamartia :

 Othello's hamartia is his jealousy and insecurity, which stem from his status as an outsider in Venetian society and his self-doubt about his marriage to Desdemona.

Excessive Pride : 

Othello's pride in his military achievements leads him to believe that he can discern truth from lies easily, making him vulnerable to manipulation by Iago.

Reversal of Fortune : 

 Othello's trust in Iago and his belief in Desdemona's infidelity lead to a reversal of his previous happiness and trust. He becomes consumed by jealousy and begins to doubt his wife's loyalty.

Recognition : 

As Iago's manipulations become clearer, Othello gradually recognizes the depth of his mistake and the extent to which he's been misled. He realizes that he has tragically misunderstood Desdemona's innocence.

Pity and Fear :

 The audience feels pity for Othello as his jealousy drives him to commit acts of violence and ultimately to take Desdemona's life. They also experience fear as they see his downfall resulting from his tragic flaw.

Catharsis :

  Othello's tragic end and the emotional journey he undergoes through jealousy and remorse purify the emotions of the audience, allowing them to reflect on their own flaws and the consequences of unchecked emotions.

Fate and Punishment :

 Othello's fate is sealed as he succumbs to his jealousy and kills Desdemona. This tragic action brings about his own downfall and subsequent death, leading to the restoration of moral order.

In "Othello," Othello's tragic flaw of jealousy, combined with Iago's manipulation and the societal prejudices of the time, contribute to his ultimate downfall. This tragic chain of cause and effect aligns with Aristotle's principles of tragedy.

The principal of probability and necessity of Othello :

Aristotle's principle of "probability and necessity" in tragedy refers to the idea that events within a tragic plot should be both logically coherent and inevitable based on the characters' actions and motivations. 

In short we can say that the principle of probability and necessity in "Othello" involves crafting a storyline where the events are believable within the context of the characters and their motivations, and where the unfolding of events feels both logically coherent and inevitable based on the cause-and-effect relationships established within the plot.

Harmonious arrangement of incidents In Othello :

As per above diagram Othello starts with 

 

Exposition:

In which we can find introduction Of Othello as noble general, respected in Venetian society and establishment of Othello's marriage to Desdemona, defying societal norms.

Then we see that here is the arrangement of more incidents :

Conflict, Crisis,  Climax , reversal and at last we can find resolution. 

This arrangement aligns with Aristotle's principles, building tension, causing recognition, evoking emotions, and achieving catharsis through Othello's downfall.

Certain Magnitude in 'Othello': 

Let's discuss the magnitude in "Othello" according to Aristotle's principles:

"Othello" achieves proper magnitude by focusing on the downfall of a single tragic hero, Othello, and his close associates. The play's scope remains intimate, centered on personal relationships and individual character flaws. This focused scope allows for an in-depth exploration of jealousy, manipulation, and the tragic consequences they bring, evoking a powerful emotional response while maintaining unity of plot and purpose."

Unity in action In Othello:

The unity of action is achieved in Othello as the events of the play focus on Othello’s tragic fall due to his jealousy and manipulations. The cause and effect progression of the play follows Othello as he changes from a trusting character to a suspicious character, leading to his irrevocable actions. The unity of action in Othello ensures a concentrated and cohesive story.

Conclusion:

Shakespeare's play "Othello" is a classic example of a tragic story in which the protagonist's hamartia leads to their downfall. By incorporating Aristotle's ethical principles into the narrative, Shakespeare creates a timeless tragedy that captivates viewers and confirms the timelessness of tragic storytelling.

Thank you 😊

Happy Learning...😊👍