FREE ESSAY ON SHAKESPEARIAN TRADGEDY

SHAKESPEARIAN TRADGEDY

In the article, Othello and the pattern of Shakespearean Tragedy, by G.R. Hibbard
published in 1968, Hibbard discusses how Othello, by William Shakespeare, stands apart
from the rest of the Shakespearean Tragedies. He uses examples from the play to support
his thesis of how the tragic pattern in Othello is very much different from that of the
others. I agree with Hibbard's view on Othello and it's unique characteristics that set
it apart from the traditional pattern of Shakespearean tragedies. 
Hibbard wrote his article using supporting points to show how Othello is set apart from
the other plays. He describes the unrealistic events surrounding Othello being sent to
Cyprus, where he is allowed to bring his new wife. Hibbard write that Iago's only goal in
the play is to ruin Othello's life and does not want more political or military power, as
in the other plays but wishes only to destroy all that is good and beautiful. All the
other plays have plots where the events in the public follow the pattern of the events of
the antagonist this is missing in Othello. "The pattern of the tragedy is a whirlpool,
with its center in the poisoned mind of the hero which reshapes, distorts, and degrades
objective reality." Unlike in the other Shakespearean tragedies Othello does not know the
antagonist until the end of the play when it is too late to realize what has occurred.
The ending of Othello is also unique, in this case good does not prevail over evil and
unlike the other tragedies Othello seeks his own valediction and "the ruin is total".
I agree with most of the authors points of discussion in this article. I agree that
Othello is sent to Cyprus for the sole purpose of changing the scene to commence Iago's
plan and that this is very different from the other plays where there are no such
dramatic events that are discarded so quickly (the immediate sinking of the Turkish
fleet). I see the 'whirlpool' pattern the author speaks of where Iago is at the center;
this is clearly different from the other tragic plays where the direction is clear and
straightforward. Unlike in MacBeth, or Romeo and Juliet, Othello does not know the
antagonist until the end, I agree with this point because throughout the play it is clear
that Othello trusts Iago completely and disbelieves any evidence that contradicts what he
is saying. I also agree with Hibbard's point that in other Shakespearean tragedies the
public events mirror the actions of the antagonist. Hibbard is right in saying that the
ending is quite unique with the bodies being left on stage and the others quickly moving
through the arrangements of distributing the assets, they learned no lessons as in Romeo
and Juliet, they seemed almost unaffected by the deaths. The end was also unique because
Othello killed himself, he knew he did wrong and punished himself, this does not occur in
other tragedies. 
Although I support Hibbard in his thesis, I disagree with a few of his supporting
arguments. It is true that Iago did want to destroy the lives of both Cassio and Othello,
but did this because he felt that he deserved Cassio's position in the military. When
Hibbard says, "The ruin is total" I think this is extreme. I feel that evil did not
prevail, because Iago's plan did not succeed, neither good nor evil triumphed. 
In reading Hibbard's article I felt he did a good job at supporting his thesis. He
provided the reader with enough information to understand why he chose his thesis and
decide whether or not they agree with his points. He used appropriate references to
support his ideas and backed up his points with specific events from the play.