Othello is undoubtedly one of Shakespeare's most tragic heroes. He fulfills every sense of the word, starting as an almost flawless character but evolving into a deceptive, pitiful shame whose sense of justice has been distorted by Iago's darkness. Even the faults with which he is struck are those which may seem laudable to some. Throughout the play, Othello has in mind one supreme goal, subconscious or otherwise: as a general and as a man, he desires to rule militarily, socially, and romantically, justly and dispassionately. This “passion” refers to the calm and balanced judgment required of a character like Othello. When we first meet Othello in person, he is immediately seen as our hero. He loves with all his soul, lives to uphold justice and seemingly governs without emotion altering his spirit. However, as the play continues, he deteriorates and becomes less of a paragon and a shell of a tragedy-struck hero. His jealousy is stimulated by what he has sworn never to let rule him; his passion. Othello is nothing more than a puppet attached to a string, a powerful sword brandished by Iago's arm. Shakespeare's Othello is full of flawed characters. From the beginning of the play, we, the audience, are attacked by a lovestruck fool in Roderigo and a wayward father in Brabantio. It almost seems as if Shakespeare wants us, as an audience, to connect with the least flawed character presented to us. We immediately latch on to Othello, the courageous war hero. We feel insulted and angered by the accusations made by Brabantio against him. Perhaps it is the different color of his skin that makes our bond with him even stronger. Anyway, we are introduced to Othello, the greatest character in ...... middle of paper ...... and Cassio together, Othello's emotions began to seep through. By the end of the play, they are so rampant that not even his wife's truthful, frightening, terrible pleas for life could sway him. As a tragic hero, Othello is one of Shakespeare's most worthy of pity. He is shown to an empathetic audience, and although he may seem ignorant and reckless at first, we learn how deep his emotions run. So crucial to Othello is Othello that the entire play is aptly named after him. As an audience, we understand Othello. We mourn with him as he kills Desdemona; shout with him as he discovers the truth about Iago, and be silent with him as he ends his life. As Othello himself remarks: “Speak of me as I am. Nothing attenuating, / Nor anything registered in malice. So you must speak / Of someone who did not love wisely; but too good” (V.ii.342-344).