This paper aims at analysing the warrior personalities of Othello and Macbeth. Why do they act the way they do? Does their warrior identity affect their behaviour or their relationships and does it have an effect on the decision they make? Are there conflicts or problems they have to handle because of their way of thinking and acting? The following paper will try to go further into these questions in order to give possible reasons for the tragic downfall of the two protagonists.
The two tragedies "Othello" and "Macbeth", written by William Shakespeare, can be seen as two of the best-known plays published by the English playwriter. At the beginning of the two Shakespearean dramas, both protagonists are introduced as noble and fearless warriors. Both generals seem to lead a really good life because they are happily married and highly respected by the people around them. Nevertheless, their lives change due to several momentous decisions they make. At the end of both tragedies, the brave and powerful warrior fails and dies because of the decisions he took before.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Being a warrior in the two Shakespearean tragedies
a. Othello as a warrior
b. Macbeth as a warrior
c. Comparative analysis of Othello’s and Macbeth’s warrior personalities
III. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper examines how the warrior identities of Othello and Macbeth influence their decision-making processes, interpersonal relationships, and eventual tragic downfalls. By analyzing key scenes from both plays, the research investigates the disconnect between the protagonists' battlefield mentalities and the demands of civil life.
- The influence of warrior ethos on personal decision-making.
- The role of pride and honor as psychological vulnerabilities.
- The destructive impact of manipulation by external figures (Iago and the witches).
- The clash between military brutality and moral/social expectations.
- A comparative evaluation of Othello's and Macbeth's tragic trajectories.
Excerpt from the Book
a. Othello as a warrior
Othello has been fighting in battles since he was a seven-year-old (1.3.84-86), which is why he strongly considers himself to be a warrior. Frequently, his profession as a soldier affects his understanding of love and honour but also his behaviour in conversations. His manner often appears to be provocative and challenging, in some situations he even seems to be contemptuous. For example, after Brabantio charges him with jinxing and abducting Desdemona (1.2.62-81) he responds “Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it, Without a prompter” (1.2.82-83). Comparing Brabantio and his servants with prompters who want to tell him what to do, he expresses his perceived superiority and pride.
According to Leavis, “a habit of self-approving self-dramatization is an essential element in Othello’s make-up” (126), which is why he acts the way he does. At the beginning of the play, his self-confidence seems to be distinctive of Othello’s personality because he says about himself “My parts, my title, and my perfect soul Shall manifest me rightly” (1.2.31-32). Besides, it can also be observed that he is proud of his origins when Othello speaks about him being “of royal siege” (1.2.22). He is talking about his achievements and underlines that he is proud of all the things he accomplished in life.
His heroic actions on the battlefield and his pride may also be considered as an essential aspect regarding his relationship with Desdemona. Othello states that his wife fell in love with him because of his battles won and all the dangers he survived (1.3.168). Additionally, he reveals that he “loved her that she did pity” (1.3.169) his war stories, which is why Othello being a fearless and valiant warrior can be regarded as a significant factor for their relationship. Due to the general’s stories and him using images of war when talking to Desdemona (e.g. “May the winds blow till they have wakened the death, And let the labouring bark climb hills of seas” (2.1.184-85)), it frequently seems like Othello is unable to cope with anybody who is different from him.
Chapter Summaries
I. Introduction: This chapter introduces the two protagonists as noble warriors whose lives, despite their initial success and status, spiral into tragedy due to pivotal life decisions.
II. Being a warrior in the two Shakespearean tragedies: This section investigates the specific warrior traits of the protagonists, analyzing their battlefield mindset and how this professional identity conflicts with their personal lives.
a. Othello as a warrior: This subsection explores Othello's pride, his self-dramatization, and how his military background prevents him from navigating the complexities of his marriage and social environment.
b. Macbeth as a warrior: This subsection details how Macbeth's transition from a loyal warrior to a power-hungry tyrant is driven by manipulation and an inability to reconcile his violent nature with the mental burden of murder.
c. Comparative analysis of Othello’s and Macbeth’s warrior personalities: This subsection synthesizes the findings to show how both men, despite different motivations, fall due to a shared inability to cope with non-violent conflicts.
III. Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the argument that the warrior mentality serves as a catalyst for destruction, ultimately leading to the protagonists' tragic downfalls.
Keywords
Shakespeare, Othello, Macbeth, warrior, tragedy, battlefield, honor, pride, manipulation, Iago, Witches, downfall, violence, morality, ambition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this academic paper?
The paper analyzes the warrior personalities of Othello and Macbeth and examines how this identity influences their behaviors, relationships, and eventual tragic downfalls.
What are the central thematic areas discussed?
The core themes include the warrior ethos, the conflict between battlefield conduct and civil societal expectations, the role of pride, and the psychological impact of violent ambition.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to understand why Othello and Macbeth act the way they do and how their warrior mindset contributes to their tragic destruction.
Which scientific method is utilized in this study?
The study employs a literary analysis of primary source material (the plays themselves), supplemented by secondary literature to interpret characters and evaluate hypothetical assumptions.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body characterizes Othello and Macbeth as warriors, analyzes their specific traits, and provides a comparative synthesis of their shared weaknesses and divergent paths to ruin.
Which keywords best characterize the research?
Key terms include Shakespeare, Othello, Macbeth, warrior identity, tragedy, pride, honor, and social isolation.
How does Othello’s warrior identity specifically affect his relationship with Desdemona?
His identity creates a barrier because he relies on "war stories" to relate to her and lacks the "soft parts of conversation" required for courtly life, making him susceptible to Iago's manipulations.
Why does Macbeth struggle with his decision to kill King Duncan?
Macbeth experiences internal conflict because he is a soldier accustomed to "images of death" on the battlefield, but he struggles with the moral weight of murdering a kinsman and a guest in his own home.
How does the conclusion reconcile the protagonists' deaths with the restoration of order?
The author argues that Shakespeare restores peace and harmony at the end of both plays by removing the culprits (killing Macbeth, sentencing Iago), thereby cleansing society of the violence associated with their characters.
- Citar trabajo
- Felix Reisch (Autor), 2018, Othello and Macbeth as warriors, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/900047
