Othello Discussion Prompts

The basic premise of the discussion is that Othello is a good example of what Aristotle was talking about in his discussion of tragedy, so that in Othello we see the full tragic story, in which a man like ourselves, but better rather than worse, makes a great mistake and falls (losing his identity) — raising our pity and fear — until he discovers the truth about what he has done and regains himself — resulting in a catharsis of our pity and fear.
FIRST DAY:
  1. How are we persuaded that Othello is like us, but better, rather than worse?
  2. At what moment in the play does Othello make his tragic mistake? And just what is that mistake?


SECOND DAY:
  1. Show how, in the course of Othello's fall, all of his admirable characteristics are reversed.
  2. How does Othello redeem himself?


Of course I have favorite ideas about how these questions should be answered, and you can get an idea of what my ideas are by looking at my notes for a lecture on Othello, but you should also develop your own ideas.