The ever-famous tragic flaw, consistent throughout all of Shakespeare's works, .
echoes once more into the soul of a moor. A moor respected by all for his proven .
leadership, honor, self-control, and sound judgment. However Othello was vulnerable to .
what he didn't know, and what he couldn't control, and so forth he let fear take the wheel .
and steer. Othello's tragic flaw was his unwillingness to trust his past, in place of trusting .
his fear of the uncertain future.
.
Iago viewed Othello's honest nature, not as an admirable quality, but more as an .
effective weapon against him. .
"This fellow's of exceeding honesty, and knows all qualities, with a learned .
spirit, Of human dealings, If I do prove her haggard, thought that her jesses were .
my dear heartstrings, I"d whistle her off and let her down the wind to prey at .
fortune. (Arp, 1174)." .
Othello and Desdemona's unfaltering love for each other was immediately questioned, as .
Othello immediately began searching for answers, so he could find some stability, and try .
to gain control over his current powerless situation. With this in mind, Iago, started to .
spin his web more to prey on Othello's weakness and strengthen Othello's beliefs in his .
honesty. Iago tells Othello that he heard Cassio muttering during his dreams of his affair .
with Desdemona, and the handkerchief Othello gave her as a gift was spotted with Cassio .
(Arp, 1179). Othello's enragement after hearing this was directly caused by his fear, the .
worst he expected is becoming more of a reality, because he is so vulnerable and will .
believe anything just so he has some satisfaction. Othello's fear of what could be is so .
strong that he no longer trusts Desdemona and the love that got him there, and that .
becomes his undoing.
In this play, Othello's tragic flaw, fear, was one of human nature, where readers .
could relate and understand how apprehension drives us to extremes. Fear is such an .
