6. Betrayal

“Do not trust all men, but trust men of worth; the former course is silly, the latter a mark of prudence.” ~ Democritus

“Sometimes before it gets better / The darkness gets bigger / The person that you’d take a bullet for is the one behind the trigger” ~ “Miss Missing You,” Fall Out Boy

In a tragedy, the hero may face some sort of betrayal by a person he trusts. In Othello, the hero trusts Iago without wavering; this misplaced faith contributes to his eventual downfall. Oedipus, on the other hand, sees disloyalty all around him, but in the end he learns that no other person has betrayed him.

In your own words, reflect on a time that you (or someone you know) were betrayed by a friend or loved one. How did that betrayal impact your life? What did that betrayal teach you? Do you think most betrayals can be forgiven? Explain your thoughts.

Your response should be 100-200 words and is due no later than 8:00 a.m. on Friday, October 31, 2014. You will lose points if your response is under the minimum number of words, if it is late, and/or if it does not reflect your own ideas.

5. Flaw

In literature, a tragic hero exhibits a fatal flaw or a tragic flaw–-a problem with his personality that eventually leads to his downfall. In Othello, Othello is driven to madness and his demise by his irrational jealousy and self-doubt.

In your own opinion, what is your greatest flaw or weakness? (I’m talking personality, not physical.) How has this flaw affected your life? Is the flaw something you can work to change, or is it something that can never be changed? Do you want to change this flaw, or is it something you have grown to accept about yourself?

Your response should be 100-200 words and is due no later than 8:00 a.m. on Friday, October 24. You will lose points if your response is under the minimum number of words, if it is late, and/or if it does not reflect your own ideas.