The ill-fated hero that so honorably battles evil only to be tripped by a single, yet fatal, character flaw is as much a part of William Shakespeare's work as any theme in literature. This dynamic plot structure has been worked, and reworked into some of the worlds most well known, critically acclaimed literary selections, among which, Shakespeare's Othello is a prime example. Within the text of this tragic drama, Othello's fatal flaw can be seen to be his simple idealism, his trusting innocence to the world, and his failure to see through his jealousy.
From the onset of the play, Othello is revealed to have the attributes of the most honorable of heroes. This celebrated Moorish general has lived a hard, yet ultimately victorious life to date, and has found love for the first time in Desdemona. In fact, the first hints to this innocence can be seen in his explanation of the "charms" used in the winning of Desdemona's hand in marriage. In this, his greatest conquest, he whole-heartedly believes that his tales of battle were the driving force behind Desdemona's love for him. This rather simple take on the complex workings of love reveals the innocent idealism behind the character Othello and his simplistic, yet pure love for the fair Desdemona. .
However, more pressing examples of this hero's innocence to the world can be witnessed, by the reader, in his interactions with the evil Iago. Using Othello's trusting soul against him, Iago plants the seeds of Desdemona's infidelity in Othello's head, and allows the jealous rage to fester in his mind. Refusing to believe that Iago could lie about such a matter, yet just as strongly refusing to accept that Desdemona could have betrayed him so callously, the General is wrought with frustration. This anger, facilitated by his simple, idealistic views on love and the world, causes a collapse in Othello, who initially demands physical proof, but then begins to accept Iago's truth on his word, as is Othello's nature.
