Human frailty in Othello Tragedy is an intrinsically human concept; tragic heroes are damned for what they do. Othello is not so much dejected by Iago's actions, but by a quality that all people possess: human frailty. As a result, Othello is not a victim of the consequences, but an active participant in its downfall. It is not simply a vehicle for Iago's machinations; he had free will. Othello's shortcomings are: an insecure understanding of Venetian social values; lack of critical intelligence, self-knowledge, and trust in his wife; and, finally, insecurity: these are the qualities that lead him to ruin. Othello is the Cultural Other in Venetian society, and although he is highly cultured, he is likely not fully aware of the social and cultural mores that govern Venice. As a Moor, Othello was raised outside Venice, and therefore remains separate and exotic. Although he is a great military man and accepted by the elite of Venice, there is still something foreign about him. The characters in the play, for the most part, call Othello "the Moor" (1. 1. 37, 1. 1. 161, 1. 2. 56). By calling Othello "the Moor", his proper name is removed and he is left as an object. He is accepted only for his military prowess and seems to be used almost like a commodity; he is sent to Cyprus, with little notice, almost at the Duke's whim. It is only because he is valuable to Venice that he is not punished for marrying the white Desdemona; Brabantio's anger is a clear indication that miscegenation is not an acceptable practice. Therefore, being a stranger to Venetian society, even the vague inkling that he is just a body used to fighting can lead to an insecurity that only exacerbates the deep-rooted, pre-existing... middle of paper.... ..ure Spring 1996: accessed (online). April 27, 1999 http://www. Galileopechnet.eduBloom, Harold. "Introduction" Modern Critical Interpretations, Othello Ed. Harold Bloom, Pub. Chelsea House New Haven CT 1987. (1-6)J. Adelman. “Iago's Alter Ego: Running as Projection in Othello,” Shakespeare Quarterly v48 Summer 1997: 130.Jones, Eldred. "Othello: an interpretation" Critical essays on Shakespeare's Othello. Ed. Anthony G. Barthelemy Pub. Macmillan New York, NY 1994. (page 39-55) Neely, Carol. "Women and men in Othello" Critical essays on Shakespeare's Othello. Ed. Anthony G. Barthelemy Pub. Macmillan New York, NY 1994. (pages 68-90)Norman Sanders, ed. Othello. Cambridge: New York, 1995: 12.Snyder, Susan. "Beyond comedy: Othello" Modern critical interpretations, Othello Ed. Harold Bloom, Pub. Chelsea House New Haven CT 1987. (pg 23-37)