Othello: Tragic Conventions

OthelloTragedyEnglish LiteratureWilliam Shakespeare
Written By Natasha Tabani

If you’re revising Tragedy in Othello, this page is for you! It’s a quick-fire look at some of the most important tragic elements and conventions that relate to the play - including plot, character and theme. 

If you need more help with Othello, you can also check out our Complete Othello Revision Pack below:

TRAGIC PLOT ELEMENTS 

  • Tragic Structure (Five Acts)
     Definition: Classical tragedies are structured in five acts: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, catastrophe.
    Example:

    • Act I: Exposition (Othello and Desdemona’s love revealed)

    • Act III: Climax (Othello vows revenge)

    • Act V: Catastrophe (Desdemona’s and Othello’s deaths)

  • Inevitable Downfall
     Definition: The hero’s fate is sealed by their flaw and external manipulation.
    Example: Once Othello trusts Iago over Desdemona, his downfall is unstoppable.

  • Violence and Death
     Definition: Tragedies often end in death, especially of the tragic hero and innocent characters.
    Example: The deaths of Desdemona, Othello, and Emilia.

TRAGIC CHARACTERS

  • The Tragic Hero
     Example: Othello – noble, respected, but flawed.

  • The Villain / Machiavellian Manipulator
     Definition: A scheming, deceptive character who causes the downfall.
    Example: Iago – cunning, manipulative, driven by jealousy and spite.

  • The Innocent Victim
     Definition: A character who suffers undeservedly.
    Example: Desdemona, killed despite her loyalty and love.

  • The Loyal Friend / Voice of Reason
     Definition: Often ignored by the tragic hero.
    Example: Emilia and Cassio both try to tell the truth or act honourably.

  • The Outsider
     Definition: The hero or another character is socially or racially marginalised.
    Example: Othello, a Black man in a white Venetian society, is constantly aware of his differences.

TRAGIC THEMES 

Jealousy as a Destructive Force
 Example: Othello’s jealousy, manipulated by Iago, leads to murder and suicide.

Appearance vs Reality
 Example: Iago appears honest ("Honest Iago") but is deceitful; Desdemona appears guilty but is innocent.

Manipulation and Betrayal
 Example: Iago betrays Othello’s trust; Othello betrays Desdemona’s love.

Fall from Grace
 Definition: A respected character descends into disgrace or madness.
Example: Othello begins as a noble general, ends as a murderer.

Miscommunication / False Evidence
 Example: The handkerchief serves as "proof" of infidelity but is misunderstood and misused.

Fate and Free Will
 Example: Othello’s actions are driven by personal choice, but his fate feels sealed by flaws and Iago’s schemes.

Thanks for reading!

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  • A breakdown of the story

  • Themes, context, critical ideas

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  • Video lessons, digital study guides, printable workbooks + more!

  • Perfect for GCSE + iGCSE, suitable for all exam boards: AQA, OCR, Edexcel, WJEC

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Natasha Tabani
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Tragic Terminology for Othello