Final EssayIn these historical and world-famous novels, the authors use similar techniques and writing styles to construct their tragic heroes. The tragic hero is a character designed and used to evoke both pity and fear in the audience; in these two novels, each author creates a strong tragic hero through their use of tragic characters. Our two tragic heroes, Othello and Okonkwo, undergo the traditional cycles and events that make a tragic hero, these cycles can be highlighted by the authors use of character sheets. Both characters have multiple foils, making these events easier to recognize. In both novels, our characters are responsible for their own destiny; they are reckless, aggressive and proud. These qualities contrast significantly with those that come closest to them. In Othello, our hero's wife, Desdemona, can be seen as almost the opposite: she is calm. Cool and wise. These traits illustrate how out of control Othello has become, leading him to destroy his future. During these cycles, Othello has another foil in the villainous character Iago. Iago's cunning and deception contrasted greatly with Othello's tact and confidence. I know, Iago, that your honesty and your love are detrimental to this matter. (Shakespeare II.iii. 1396) This quote shows how much Othello depends on Iago. Similarly, in Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo's foils can be shown in his son Nwoye and the rest of his community, when the tribes give in to the influence of white men. Their resignation and acceptance boldly contrasts with Okonkwo's firm attitude and resentment, it is because of his foils that he commits the crimes and sins that he commits, ultimately leading to his own demise. “The missionaries had come to Umuofia. They had built their ...... middle of paper ...... thanks on me! (Shakespeare V. ii. 3335) Similarly in Things Fall Apart, driven mad with grief, Okonkwo chooses to end his life rather than live in the world his tribe has arrived in. Okonkwo looked at the dead man. He knew that Umuofia would not go to war. “He knew because they let the other messengers escape. Instead of taking action, they threw themselves into uproar. He discerned the fear in this tumult. He heard voices asking, “Why did he do that?” He wiped the machete on the sand and left. (Achebe 205) His grief and anger could be contrasted with the passivity and resignation of his community, which as a whole serves as Okonkwo's great character. In these two historical novels, authors Chineua Achebe and William Shakespeare heavily employ a sense of character sheet to suggest the use of a tragic hero in their novel. Works Cited OthelloThings Fall apart