Othello is, without a doubt, one of Shakespeare's most tragic heroes. He fills every sense of the word, starting as an almost flawless character but evolving into a misguided, pitiful shame whose sense of justice has been warped by Iago's darkness. Even the defects with which he is affected are those which to some may seem worthy of praise. Throughout the play Othello has a supreme goal in mind, subconscious or otherwise: as a general and as a man, he desires to rule militarily, socially, and romantically, with justice and without passion. This "passion" refers to the calm and balanced judgment required of a figure like Othello. When we first meet Othello in person, he is immediately struck as our hero. He loves with all his soul, lives to uphold justice, and seemingly rules without emotion tainting his mind. However, as the play continues, he degrades to become less of a role model and a shell of a tragedy-stricken hero. His jealousy is stimulated by what he has sworn never to let dominate; his passion. Othello becomes little more than a puppet hanging on a string, a mighty sword wielded by Iago's arm. Shakespeare's Othello is full of flawed characters. From the beginning of the show, we spectators are attacked by a madman in love with Roderigo and a capricious father with Brabantio. It almost seems like Shakespeare wants us as an audience to connect with the least flawed character we're given. We immediately attach ourselves to Othello, the brave war hero. We feel insulted and angry about Brabantio's accusations against him. Perhaps it is precisely the different color of his skin that makes our bond with him even stronger. In any case, we are introduced to Othello, the greatest character of... middle of the paper... and Cassio together, Othello's emotions began to show. By the end of the play, they are so rampant that not even his wife's sincere, fearful, terrible pleas for life could sway him. As a tragic hero, Othello is one of Shakespeare's most pitiful. He is shown to an empathetic audience, and while he may seem ignorant and reckless at first, we learn how deep his emotions run. Othello is so crucial to Othello, that the entire play is aptly named after him alone. We as an audience understand Othello. We grieve with him as he kills Desdemona; scream with him as he discovers the truth about Iago and be silent with him as he ends his life. As Othello himself observes: “Speak of me as I am. Nothing attenuates, / Nor diminishes anything with malice. Then you must speak / Of one who did not love wisely; but too well” (V.ii.342-344).