Othello is a perfect example of Greek tragedy. It embodies all the essential parts needed to produce a Greek tragedy. A hero of noble birth, his tragic flaw and the reversal and recognition. Fitting a Greek tragedy Othello starts in the middle of an event. Othellos marriage to Desdemona. Iago keeps us informed how and when things are going to happen. Everything is explained through dialogue. Iago tells the audience how things are going to play out in Act II, scene 1, lines 288 through 314, where he says. That Cassio loves her, I do well believet;
That she loves him, tis apt and of great credit. The Moor, howbeit that I endure him not, Is of a constant, loving, noble nature, And I dare think hell prove to Desdemona A most dear husband. Now I do love her too; Not out of absolute lust, though peradventure I stand accountant for as great a sin, But partly led to diet my revenge, For that I do suspect the lusty Moor Hath leaped into my seat; the thought whereof Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards; And nothing can or shall content my soul Till I am evened with him, wife for wife; Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor At least into a jealousy so strong That judgment cannot cure.
Which thing to do, If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trash For his quick hunting, stand the putting on, Ill have our Michael Casio on the hip, Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb (For I fear Cassio with my nightcap too), Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me And practicing upon his peace and quiet Even to madness. This here, but yet confused: Knaverys plain face is never seen till used. Othellos flaw is jealousy, in the beginning its not even an issue for him.
However when Iago began to plant poisonous seeds of doubt in Othellos mind, it doesnt take long for the green eyed monster to rear its ugly head. During the crisis to the extreme killing of Desdemona. However in the time period when this story takes place, it was acceptable and common for husbands to kill their wives if they tarnished their husbands good name. After Othello kills her the falling action began to take place when Othello finds out that he has been betrayed in Act 5, scene II, beginning at line 170. During the falling action you feel pity for Othello even though he murdered Desdemona.
Through the manipulation of Iago, Othello killed the woman who he loved more than life itself. Othello is the perfect example of a Greek tragedy. In Trifles women solve a crime while being belittled by men who are there to solve the same crime. The play takes place in the home of Minnie Wright in a time when women were to be seen and not heard. Through out the play the men belittle women and pay no attention to the womens thoughts on what has taken place. The men just focus on the hard evidence, a man was murdered and as far as the men can see there is no hard evidence.
By the end of the play the men still dont have a clue why it took place. The women, however, seem to know something is not right from the moment they enter the house. During the time period when this story takes place the house was a womans pride and joy, and they tended to keep it neat and tidy. When the men made snide remarks dirty the house was, I thought it was funny when Mrs. Hale comes back with her comment that seems to indirectly highlight the fact that Mr. Wright, as a man, might not be the faultless victim. Mrs. Hale says: Those towels get dirty awful quick.
Mens hands arent always clean as they might be. The women arent even trying to solve the murder, they seem to just come across things and they put two and two together, while the men are running around upstairs. The women see a woman imprisoned in her own house, her husband being her captive. After seeing the results of Minnie being lonely Mrs. Hale says: I couldve come. I stayed away because it werent cheerful – and thats why I ought to have come. Ive never liked this place. Maybe its because its down in a hollow and you dont see the road.
I dunno what it is, but its a lonesome place and always was. I wish I had come over to see Minnie Foster sometimes. I can see now. The women dont turn in Minnie partly because Mrs. Hale feels guilty because she didnt do anything to end Minnies loneliness. She felt if she would have just visited her more it would not have happened. They also feel it was justified in a way. To live so long in that house, alone for the most part, and for the man that she despises to kill her only companion, was the final straw. That was the only way for her to escape he cage.
