Title-Cassio's Tragedy and Shakespeare's Use of Minor Characters Assignment-Analyze a play (Othello) in terms of a minor character's relation to the plot

Shakespearean tragedies rarely contain blameless characters. The characters whose lives get turned upside down usually either deserve it, or they directly contributed to their downfall by holding onto some flaw or vice. This is always true for his tragic heroes, but what about his minor characters? They usually suffer just as much as the main characters. They usually exhibit character flaws. The difference is that they are rarely responsible for their own downfall; their circumstances …

…major characters. With Othello we understand why the things that happened happened, and, even more, we see how he could have made them end differently. Cassio never has those chances and is undeserving of the fate that was given to him. Shakespeare uses his minor characters as crucial elements to further the plot, but does not give them an active role in creating it. They are simply victims of fate, circumstance, and the playwright's whim.