Author: o.choudhury

Othello is a tragic hero for several reasons. A tragic hero is the protagonist of a story who has a fall from grace. A tragic hero is a character who has everything going for him or her, however, they have flaw that sparks their downfall. Due to hubris or pride the heroic character, realizes his or her unfortunate mistake to late. Othello is a military general who is respected by the government and most of the people in his Italian community. However, Iago is the antagonist or nemesis who works against Othello. Due to Iago’s envious and vengeful personality, he constructs the downfall of Othello. Iago hates Othello because Othello has promoted Cassio instead of himself. Then, Roderigo hates Othello because he’s in love with Desdemona who is Othello’s wife. Finally, Brabantio, Desdemona’s father hates Othello for marrying his daughter without his permission. Despite Othello’s courageous leadership, he is tainted by Iago’s, Roderigo’s and Brabantio’s feelings about Othello’s race and/or national origin. Othello is a Moor from North Africa. He is the only African in his Italian community; therefore, he is subjected to the scrutiny of others.

Q.Consider the relationship between Dante and Virgil.

virgil’s relationship with Dante is based on seeing him through the different levels in hell. Virgil was to show Dante the consequences of him failing to change and come back to God in his life. From the onset, Dante had a lot of doubts regarding the expedition that he was on. The relationship with Virgil crops when he reveals to Dante. He had been sent by St. Lucy and Beatrice from heaven to give him guidance and protection.

Q.What is the role of prophecies and/or fate in The Aeneid?

Answer. Fate is a central theme and one of the most important forces that is represented. Neither man nor divine intervention can change those outcomes. The king of the gods, Jupiter, preordains the direction and destination of Aeneas’s course. Various gods interfere in Aeneas’s life to advance their own personal interests, but they can not change fate. Their interference do however impede him on his journey to fulfilling his destiny. The defeat of Troy by the Greeks was another step to in the Trojans fulfilling their destiny.

Q.Discuss the role of xenia (the guest-host relationship) in The Odyssey. How do guests and/or hosts exemplify or fail to meet the high standard he has in mind for how guests and hosts should treat each other?

Answer. Xenia is the great concept of hospitality and guest host relationship. The guest host relationship is explored in a number of episodes throughout the Odyssey. From the first half of the epic features Telemachus and Odysseus arriving at someone’s lands and being received as a guest and the interactions Telemachus and Odysseus have with their hosts during these episodes reveal the process in which the guest host relationship is developed. Some elements include the bath, the feast, the question of who the guest-gift, and the promise of transport and protection. Telemachus arrives at ploys while Nestor and his people are holding a grand feast, is welcomed by them, and participants in the feasting.