Brian Pharai
ECII ENGL 102-21
Professor Baker
5/12/14
A Tragic Hero:
Corrupted of Jealousy
A hero is one who steps forward and acts as a light towards the darkness, shadowing
goodness in society and human behavior. An act of heroism contains a quality where one
must step out of their comfort zone to help others in need, resting aside their own
demands. In Shakespearean tragedies, a tragic hero is a righteous character who is destined
for downfall, suffering, or defeat. This view of heroism takes the story of a tragedy and
enables readers to feel love and sorrow with the protagonist, who is usually the hero. The
original form of a tragedy was born from the tragic plays of ancient Athens. In these plays
were depicted the downfall of a great character of Greek legend. Wrestling against the
overwhelming fate, the hero’s defeat would be so noble that he wins the moral victory over
those that actually defeat or kill him. A tragedy stimulated pity and fear in the audience. It
cleansed the soul, leaving spectators frightened but purified. The story of Othello contains
characters that include a variety of different perspectives towards life. These perspectives
all include qualities that question life itself and how one’s emotions can influence certain
behaviors, whether it be evil or good. Othello falls under the false guidance of Iago,
resulting in behaviors that dispose of everything he loved and cared for. The darkness he
once despised corrupted his soul, allowing his actions to be the end of him.
Jealousy can be a dangerous emotion. Since the earliest of times with Cain and Abel,
jealousy has brought about the downfall of those who allow it to take control of their mind.
For those who have been corrupted by jealousy have created tragedies for the small world
based around their own lives. In the story of Genesis, it is arguable to say that God
disrespected Cain. Cain killed Abel because God had respect unto Abel for his offering,
causing shame upon the angry brother. Othello murdered Desdemona because he thought
she had shamed him by being with another man, Michael Cassio. These forms of jealousy
twisted the minds of those once with honor to feel complete shame, allowing anger and
hatred to come to life in physical forms of behavior. Jealousy can lead into suspicion,
which can then lead into further course of actions if emotions of oneself take control of the
