tragedy of Othello

In tragedy the reader often sympathizes and empathizes with the protagonist who attains "wisdom through suffering." Tess Durbeyfield, in Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles and Othello, in William Shakespeare's Othello are protagonists who elicit the sympathy of the reader as they suffer, act, and triumph over their antagonists, who are embodied by the characters of Alec D'Urberville, Tess' wealthy defiler, and Iago, Othello's amoral lieutenant. In both works the protagonists succumb to the pernicious …

…Tess Durbeyfield, in Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles, and Othello, in William Shakespeare's Othello, are tragic heroes because they suffer, face great losses, and triumph in their attainment of wisdom. As they languish, act, and defeat their antagonists, they elicit the sympathy of the reader. The protagonists' acceptance of their actions (death) allow them to symbolically triumph. Their stories and consequential tragedies allow the reader to experience catharsis, as they identify with their suffering.