Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/11-2-2-aspects-of-tragedy

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# Aspects of Tragedy

English Lit: AQA A Level Othello, topic 11.2.2

## Aspects of Tragedy

Below is a list of areas that can usefully be explored, as well as some key points in relation to _Othello_:

### Tragic text

![Tragic text](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/97fa7f2d-bf10-4ae4-a8d4-a1a6d1d6554f/fear-1131143_1920.jpg)

- The type of the tragic text itself, whether it is classical and about public figures, or domestic and about representations of ordinary people:
  - The tragic text is a play (a drama).
  - The action is domestic but also public.
  - The play is about a representation of people serving in the war conducted by Venice against the Turks.
  - It draws on some classical archetypes.

### Settings

![Settings](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/memory-location-images/Carrick%20Island,%20Northern%20Ireland-min.jpg)

- The settings for the tragedy, both places and times:
  - The play is set in a previous age in the Mediterranean. 
  - The play happens over a relatively short period of time.
  - At the end of the play, there is a sense a New World must be shaped.
  - The play has generalised places like Venice and Cyprus.
  - The play has specific places like the street, the harbour, the bedroom.

### Character flaws

![Character flaws](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/04098370-9ae8-4cd1-b3d8-8ebc58b8c1b0/blind-blinded-blindfold.jpg)

- The journey towards death of the protagonists, their flaws, pride and folly, their blindness and insight, their discovery and learning, them being a mix of good and evil:
  - The deaths of Desdemona, Othello, Roderigo and Emilia.
  - The wounding of Iago and Cassio.
  - Othello’s pride in believing he is untouchable.

### Character flaws cont.

![Character flaws cont.](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/164e0399-2b18-46f8-a5be-c9b973433651/Chess.Opponent.jpg)

- Othello’s flaw in believing Iago’s lies about Desdemona and Cassio.
- Desdemona’s folly in not reacting more angrily against Othello and proving her innocence.
- Emilia’s folly in believing Iago and then not revealing the truth.
- Roderigo’s folly in believing Iago.

## Aspects of Tragedy 2

Below is a list of areas that can usefully be explored, as well as some key points in relation to _Othello_:

### The tragic villain

![The tragic villain](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/1067548c-e876-492c-a3c9-a8b266f0b1e6/Manipulation-Puppet-Strings-.jpg)

- The role of the tragic villain or opponent, who directly affects the fortune of the hero, who engages in a contest of power and is partly responsible for hero’s demise:
  - This is Iago. 
  - Roderigo assists him earlier on in the play.
  - The impact of villainy upon Othello and other characters.

### Fate

![Fate](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-01/4ea09a5f-0dfa-4586-aa44-6fa2b0cef77a/tarot-card-wheel-fortune-luck-chance-guess-fate-.jpg)

- The presence of fate, how the hero’s end is inevitable:
  - Othello’s awareness of his roots and who he had become.
  - The sin of pride and believing in deception.
  - Fate is present regarding the handkerchief and who sees it.
  - Othello’s great flaw is to not see the truth.
  - The inability of Iago to truly shift class and culture.

### The hero

![The hero](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/memory-location-images/Venice,%20Italy-min.jpeg)

- How the behaviour of the hero affects the world around him, creating chaos and affecting the lives of others:
  - Most of the other characters are affected by Iago and Othello in some way.
  - Chaos seems to have a domino effect in the play, also affecting characters like Brabantio, Rodrigo, Bianca and Cassio.
  - The effect on the life of Venice. 
  - The effects on wider society.

### Violence and revenge

![Violence and revenge](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/aba8ac4b-ccb7-4de5-9cfe-f8a94ac0a40d/violent-fist-glass-borken-aggressive-.jpg)

- The significance of violence and revenge, humour and moments of happiness:
  - Iago’s villainy, but also the humour of his plan.
  - The death of Desdemona.
  - The death of Othello and the revenge of Iago.
  - Desdemona’s marital happiness.
  - The Clown’s humour.

## Aspects of Tragedy 3

Below is a list of areas that can usefully be explored, as well as some key points in relation to _Othello_:

### Structural pattern of the text

![Structural pattern of the text](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/0f656502-a10f-4a99-90fb-6c63ffb986e9/smoke.jpg)

- The structural pattern of the text as it moves from complication to catastrophe, from order to disorder, through climax to resolution, from prosperity and happiness of the hero to the tragic end: 
  - The play opening in media res.
  - The complications over Othello and Desdemona’s relationship caused by Iago.

### Structural pattern of the text cont.

![Structural pattern of the text cont.](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/fec347c9-b23a-4dcd-87eb-91c3bda2ee57/speech-giving-speech-.jpg)

- Structural pattern of the text continued: 
  - The insertion and structural placing of Iago’s soliloquies.
  - Brabantio’s grief and death.
  - Iago’s use of Roderigo as a fool.
  - The disorder of Othello’s, Desdemona’s and Emilia’s deaths.
  - Bianca’s attempted relationship with Cassio.
  - Iago’s decision not to say what motivated him.

### Sub-plots

![Sub-plots](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/445ab4b0-a69b-4dd6-9d26-3bb7a0f8d99f/plotting-plot-.jpg)

- The use of plots and sub-plots:
  - The main plot about Othello, Iago and Desdemona.
  - The sub-plots of Roderigo and Iago, Iago and Emilia. 
  - The wider narrative of the war between Venice and the Turks over Cyprus.
  - The political plot of the Senators and Governor of Cyprus.
  - The sub-plot of Bianca and Cassio.

### Language

![Language](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/44a32c24-7139-46ae-b915-abee75cb08db/war-solider-.jpg)

- The way that language is used to heighten the tragedy:
  - The language of manipulation.
  - The language of war and conflict.
  - The language of Othello’s Moorish past.
  - Romantic language—between Othello and Desdemona.
  - Terms and expressions from the Renaissance.

### The audience

![The audience](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/physics/AQA%20New%20Modules/8.1.1/Planets.jpg)

- Ultimately how a tragedy affects the audience, acting as a commentary on the real world, moving the reader through pity and fear to an understanding of the human condition:
  - The pity and fear about Othello.
  - The consequences of a made-up love affair and the complications of this.

### The audience cont.

![The audience cont.](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/ef903c04-b83d-4b88-a529-9b7ac11d0f2e/fail-failure-.jpg)

- Ultimately how a tragedy affects the audience continued:   
 - The desire for success in Iago, to step up the ladder.
  - The characters’ flaws and failures matching our own.
  - How the tragedy connects to this periods and the Classical Age.
  - How we respond to the tragedy in the early twenty-first century.

## Test yourself on Aspects of Tragedy

- Which character foolishly believes he is untouchable?
- Who is the tragic villain in _Othello_?
- Through which features does Shakespeare explore the idea of violence and revenge in _Othello_?
- What might you comment on when discussing the structural pattern of _Othello_?

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/eaa5fbae-2db3-4bc1-9205-b0228468355d/section/a79d45d3-c75d-4def-ba08-19c4d03c3b92/session)

- Previous topic: [11.2.1 Specification B](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/11-2-1-specification-b.md)
- Next topic: [12.1.1 AOs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/12-1-1-aos.md)

## English Lit: AQA A Level Othello contents

### 1 Context
- 1.1 Introduction
  - [1.1.1 Specifications](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/1-1-1-specifications.md)
- 1.2 Background
  - [1.2.1 Shakespeare](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/1-2-1-shakespeare.md)
  - [1.2.2 Love](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/1-2-2-love.md)
  - [1.2.3 Tragedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/1-2-3-tragedy.md)
  - [1.2.4 Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/1-2-4-historical-context.md)
- 1.3 Othello
  - [1.3.1 Setting](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/1-3-1-setting.md)
  - [1.3.2 Social Issues](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/1-3-2-social-issues.md)

### 2 Act One: Summaries & Themes
- 2.1 Act and Scene Summaries
  - [2.1.1 Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-1-1-structure.md)
  - [2.1.2 The Exam](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-1-2-the-exam.md)
- 2.2 Scene One
  - [2.2.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-2-1-key-events.md)
  - [2.2.2 Key Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-2-2-key-themes.md)
  - [2.2.3 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-2-3-key-ideas.md)
- 2.3 Scene Two
  - [2.3.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-3-1-key-events.md)
  - [2.3.2 Key Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-3-2-key-themes.md)
  - [2.3.3 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-3-3-key-ideas.md)
- 2.4 Scene Three
  - [2.4.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-4-1-key-events.md)
  - [2.4.2 Key Events 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-4-2-key-events-2.md)
  - [2.4.3 Key Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-4-3-key-themes.md)
  - [2.4.4 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-4-4-key-ideas.md)

### 3 Act Two: Summaries & Themes
- 3.1 Scene One & Two
  - [3.1.1 Scene One: Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/3-1-1-scene-one-events.md)
  - [3.1.2 Key Events 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/3-1-2-key-events-2.md)
  - [3.1.3 Key Ideas: Love & Tragedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/3-1-3-key-ideas-love-and-tragedy.md)
  - [3.1.4 Scene Two: Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/3-1-4-scene-two-events.md)
- 3.2 Scene Three
  - [3.2.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/3-2-1-key-events.md)
  - [3.2.2 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/3-2-2-key-ideas.md)

### 4 Act Three: Summaries & Themes
- 4.1 Key Events
  - [4.1.1 Scene One & Two](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/4-1-1-scene-one-and-two.md)
  - [4.1.2 Scene Three](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/4-1-2-scene-three.md)
  - [4.1.3 Scene Three: Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/4-1-3-scene-three-key-ideas.md)
  - [4.1.4 Scene Four](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/4-1-4-scene-four.md)

### 5 Act Four
- 5.1 Scene One
  - [5.1.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/5-1-1-key-events.md)
  - [5.1.2 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/5-1-2-key-ideas.md)
- 5.2 Scene Two
  - [5.2.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/5-2-1-key-events.md)
  - [5.2.2 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/5-2-2-key-ideas.md)
- 5.3 Scene Three
  - [5.3.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/5-3-1-key-events.md)
  - [5.3.2 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/5-3-2-key-ideas.md)

### 6 Act Five
- 6.1 Scene One
  - [6.1.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/6-1-1-key-events.md)
  - [6.1.2 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/6-1-2-key-ideas.md)
- 6.2 Scene Two
  - [6.2.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/6-2-1-key-events.md)
  - [6.2.2 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/6-2-2-key-ideas.md)

### 7 Character Profiles
- 7.1 Major Characters
  - [7.1.1 Othello](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/7-1-1-othello.md)
  - [7.1.2 Iago](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/7-1-2-iago.md)
  - [7.1.3 Desdemona](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/7-1-3-desdemona.md)
  - [7.1.4 Emilia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/7-1-4-emilia.md)
  - [7.1.5 Cassio](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/7-1-5-cassio.md)
- 7.2 Minor Characters
  - [7.2.1 Roderigo & Brabantio](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/7-2-1-roderigo-and-brabantio.md)
  - [7.2.2 Other Characters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/7-2-2-other-characters.md)

### 8 Key Themes
- 8.1 Love & Tragedy
  - [8.1.1 Love](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/8-1-1-love.md)
  - [8.1.2 Love 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/8-1-2-love-2.md)
  - [8.1.3 Tragedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/8-1-3-tragedy.md)
  - [8.1.4 Tragedy 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/8-1-4-tragedy-2.md)
- 8.2 Other Key Themes
  - [8.2.1 Public versus Private](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/8-2-1-public-versus-private.md)
  - [8.2.2 Appearance & Reality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/8-2-2-appearance-and-reality.md)

### 9 Writing Techniques
- 9.1 Writing Techniques
  - [9.1.1 Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/9-1-1-structure.md)
  - [9.1.2 Genre](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/9-1-2-genre.md)
  - [9.1.3 Form & Language](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/9-1-3-form-and-language.md)
  - [9.1.4 Language & Imagery](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/9-1-4-language-and-imagery.md)

### 10 Critical Debates
- 10.1 Criticism & Performance
  - [10.1.1 Shakespeare's Legacy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/10-1-1-shakespeares-legacy.md)
  - [10.1.2 Traditional](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/10-1-2-traditional.md)
  - [10.1.3 Modern & Contemporary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/10-1-3-modern-and-contemporary.md)
- 10.2 Approaches
  - [10.2.1 Feminist Approach](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/10-2-1-feminist-approach.md)
  - [10.2.2 Psychoanalytic Approach](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/10-2-2-psychoanalytic-approach.md)
  - [10.2.3 Marxist Approach](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/10-2-3-marxist-approach.md)

### 11 Approaching AQA English Literature
- 11.1 Specification A
  - [11.1.1 Specification A](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/11-1-1-specification-a.md)
  - [11.1.2 Love Through the Ages](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/11-1-2-love-through-the-ages.md)
- 11.2 Specification B
  - [11.2.1 Specification B](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/11-2-1-specification-b.md)
  - [11.2.2 Aspects of Tragedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/11-2-2-aspects-of-tragedy.md)

### 12 Issues of Assessment
- 12.1 The Exams
  - [12.1.1 AOs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/12-1-1-aos.md)
  - [12.1.2 Mark Scheme](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/12-1-2-mark-scheme.md)