Is Othello a 'noble hero' brought down by 'a devil of motiveless malignity' or is Othello 'flawed and selfregarding' and brought down by a 'worldly realist'?

... Is Othello a 'noble hero' brought down by 'a devil of motiveless malignity' or is Othello 'flawed and self regarding' and brought down by a 'worldly realist'? As is shown above, there have been many differentiating opinions of the two most inscrutable characters in Shakespeare's history. As both these characters never fully reveal their true selves or their motives, it has always been difficult to determine their disposition from just the play as a source. Yet, despite this many scholars have brought forward their suggestions for the nature of both Iago's and Othello's characters. One of the first examinations into the true characters of these players comes from the nineteenth century, proposed by the scholars Coleridge and Haditt. This suggestion was that Othello was the character of innocence, whilst Iago was the 'devil' ultimately responsible. From the first time and the first words we hear from Othello it is obvious

want to read more? →