Question 2: Othello is a tragedy.
The way this story even started out with Iago plotting against a bunch of random people who we had barely been introduced to proved that the play was not going to be a comedy and end happily. Iago is too cruel and impassive to simply let go of something and let the people he is jealous of live a happy life. In the end, basically all of the main characters and supporting characters die: Othello, Desdemona, Emilia, Roderigo. Of course though the worst guy (Iago) doesn't die in the play. Cassio is commanded to do what he pleases with Iago since he is the governor. I imagine that Iago will not live too much longer, but maybe Cassio wants to keep him alive and in jail. You never know how Iago will smooth talk his way out of things.
It is very important to know that this story is a tragedy while it is being read because no one dies until the very last act. Then it's like an explosion of death and killing. This story could very well end up being a comedy until the last act, but it would not be fulfilling to an audience to all the sudden see Iago turn and become a good guy who admits his wrongs and everyone lives happily ever after. Plus, Iago's just not that kind of a guy. He's a plotting, conniving, jealous, and angry man who is not about to change himself in any way. He is the antagonist while also the flat character because he does not change in any major way over the course of the play unless him becoming more evil counts as a change. If this play was anything else but a dramatic tragedy, it would not be appealing to an audience or to a reader.
The way this story even started out with Iago plotting against a bunch of random people who we had barely been introduced to proved that the play was not going to be a comedy and end happily. Iago is too cruel and impassive to simply let go of something and let the people he is jealous of live a happy life. In the end, basically all of the main characters and supporting characters die: Othello, Desdemona, Emilia, Roderigo. Of course though the worst guy (Iago) doesn't die in the play. Cassio is commanded to do what he pleases with Iago since he is the governor. I imagine that Iago will not live too much longer, but maybe Cassio wants to keep him alive and in jail. You never know how Iago will smooth talk his way out of things.
It is very important to know that this story is a tragedy while it is being read because no one dies until the very last act. Then it's like an explosion of death and killing. This story could very well end up being a comedy until the last act, but it would not be fulfilling to an audience to all the sudden see Iago turn and become a good guy who admits his wrongs and everyone lives happily ever after. Plus, Iago's just not that kind of a guy. He's a plotting, conniving, jealous, and angry man who is not about to change himself in any way. He is the antagonist while also the flat character because he does not change in any major way over the course of the play unless him becoming more evil counts as a change. If this play was anything else but a dramatic tragedy, it would not be appealing to an audience or to a reader.
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