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             Catharsis is the part of the play that moves the audience and attempts to put them in the actor"s shoes. Shakespeare does this by attacking the issue of love. It is a very touchy and emotional subject. Anyone who has ever fallen in love can relate to Othello and Desdemona. They are viewed as the perfect newly-weds who have each other as compliments. Desdemona shows us this by protesting to the Duke and her father that she "saw Othello"s visage in his mind, And to his honor and his valiant parts Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate" (I, 3, 247-249). The love between her and Othello is one of great passion and breaking barriers. They were many years apart, came from different races, and were different colors of skin, something that was unheard of in their time. Obstacles such as these, even in our day, are very difficult to overcome. When reading or watching Othello being performed one cannot help but to feel envy for the love they have. In this tragedy, catharsis presents something the audience cannot avoid.

             Hubris and Hamartia are two components of a Shakespearean tragedy that are very much intertwined because of their basis on pride. Hubris is when the protagonist is consumed with pride and believes that fate can be beaten. Evidence of Othello"s pride is based on the thought, "No one messes around with Othello!" This becomes his eventual downfall. The reader remembers in act III, scene 3 when Iago had planted false evidence of Desdemona"s unfaithfulness; Othello reacted in a very calm way, mostly in disbelief. In act IV, scene 1 when Iago brings more evidence of Desdemona"s infidelity Othello reacts in a very different and violent way. "Let her rot, and perish, and be damned .

             tonight; for she shall not live" (IV, 1, 183-184). This statement stems from Othello"s pride in being a man of high standing who will not be cheated on. Hamartia also comes into play where Othello believes that fate can be beaten by killing Desdemona.