Why is Othello called a domestic tragedy?

Answer 1

The classification of Shakespeare's plays as "Histories" "Comedies" and "Tragedies" was done by the publishers of the compilation known as The First Folio. In this edition, the full title of the play is "The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice", and it is classed among the tragedies.

Some people will want to discuss whether this play falls within the conventions and definitions of tragedy drawn from Aristotle by later critics. It is important to know that this is a highly artificial and academic definition which Shakespeare himself does not use, and which hinges on whether there is a "tragic hero" as described by Aristotle (Basically, Oedipus in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex).

Some will say Othello is not a tragedy. Othello is not a tragic hero, Iago manipulates him. Othello falls for it because essentially he has to, he is an outsider. Also, Iago has about 200 more lines than Othello. If Iago is considered the central character, then he can in no way be considered a tragic hero.

Others will say that 'Othello' is a tragedy as he follows the conventions of a 'tragic hero'. A tragic hero is someone who has a flaw, and that flaw leads to his downfall. Othello's flaw is that he is naive and believes "honest Iago" to be exactly that, honest. Becuase of his trusting nature he declines and he ends his life realising he has nothing to live for. Iago does maniplulate Othello. But just because Iago has more control over the characters before the final scene in Act 5, doesn't mean he is the main character.

Another point of view is that the definition of 'hero' in literature has changed, and there may be better ways of deciding whether something is a tragedy than seeing how close the main character comes to Oedipus. Keep in mind that Shakespeare was a man who was beyond his time. He wrote in a very modern way. He isn't called the father of literature for no reason. In short, do we not feel like our guts are kicked out when we see this man, torn between his brain and his heart, who destroys the one he loves and who truly loves him only to find out minutes later that it was all a con job? I think so, and if that's not tragedy I don't know what is.

To conclude, 'Othello' is in fact, a tragedy. It is known as "Shakespeare's greatest tragedy".

Answer 2

Othello has been called a domestic tragedy because it deals with the matter between husband and wife. However, if we analyse it then we come to know that Othello as a whole is not a domestic tragedy, because Othello was not aware of the family politics and the gentle woman of Venice(?) Although it appears to be a domestic tragedy, it'd really just a general tragedy.

Answer 3

Yes, Othello can be considered a tragic hero. A hero is an individual who does great deeds and has great power or strength. The hero is tragic for possessing a fatal, tragic flaw that brings death or destruction to him and usually others. A typical flaw is pride. Othello indeed is a proud doer of great deeds. He also is flawed by his temper and his manipulability. Because of his flaws, he ends up responsible for his own death and for that of his faithful wife Desdemona.

Answer 4

The play Othello is a tragedy because both main and minor characters die in the end. Othello kills his innocent wife Desdemona and then he commits suicide. Iago kills Emilia. But fortunately Cassio is still well and alive. He is then proclaimed governor of Cyprus.

Answer 5

Othello is a play by William Shakespeare in which Iago, the subordinate of the general Othello, conspires to persuade Othello that his wife Desdemona is having an affair with one of his officers, Cassio. As a result Othello kills his innocent wife and then himself when he learns the truth.

Answer 6

There is no comedy relief in it, at all. Macbeth has the porter, Romeo and Juliet, the Nurse, Hamlet, the gravediggers, King Lear, the Fool, but Othello has nothing funny in it at all.

Answer 7

Othello is the protagonist and title character of the play.

Answer 8

Yes, it all ends in blood and tears.