Othello's characteristics and surrounding circumstances are what make him a tragic hero in a play with tragic outcomes. Othello is a tragic hero in his play as he is a great man brought under by a superior intellect. In the play he is our focus point for which pity is directed, and falls due to his own inner flaw; it is Othello's inner psychological struggle between envy and trust, seeded by Iago, which eventually leads him to murder his wife, affecting the whole community. Othello learns through suffering and realises his abundant lack of self knowledge which consequently leads him to his ultimate fate. His own presence in the play contributes to it being a tragedy with a horrific end where innocent people fall helplessly victim to circumstances beyond their control. The complexity of the characters personalities and characteristics combined with their world full of chaos and turmoil lead to this battle of good and evil which exists in Othello, both play and person. Othello's character is undone by Iago, who is intent on vengeance, and uses Othello's good traits against him, eventually leading to self destruction for an unnecessary evil. The tragic outcome at the end of the play, the inevitable tragic result beyond those involved powers is what makes it Shakespeare's ultimate tragedy.
All tragedies contain a strong heroic character that is sympathised with by the responders, as in Othello where he is first considered "great" however is brought under by someone more cunning, i.e. Iago. His change in personality can be seen where he reprimands, calls Desdemona a whore and strikes her in public;.
"O thou Othello, that was once so good, fallen in the practice of a damned slave what shall be said of thee?" Lodovico, (V.ii.294-296). From the beginning Othello was a likeable character and well respected in society despite his dark complexion, however it does not take long for Iago's evil plan to work and Othello's trust for an innocent and oblivious Desdemona, and a loyal Cassio to be swept away.