Most people will consider and agree that Othello is a dramatic tragedy. Shakespeare skillfully weaved many different layers into his playwright and thus it remained a literary masterpiece. There are many different definitions of tragedy and Othello would fit most of their definitions. Aristotelian tragedy is composed of many parts to meet the definition described by Aristotle. Using these requirements through definition, Othello would still qualify as a tragedy discussed through thought, diction, tragic hero, and emotional action. Starting from the definition: "A tragedy is the imitation of an action serious and also, of greatness, complete in itself; in an appropriate and pleasant language; ... in dramatic rather than narrative form; with incidents that arouse pity and fear, with which to bring about a catharsis of these emotions. Both definition and play can stand together and see the corresponding indicators that create the necessary tragedy. As the emotional action of the show unfolded, the entire cast began to embrace the unexpected conflict. This embrace began to change their character and how the audience would perceive them as a whole. This emotional action not only affected the two directly involved, Othello and Iago, but Cassio, Desdemona, Rodrigo and even Emilia. This action would be justified in grandeur and would be completed at the end of the play. Iago's diction and thought in weaving this action from seedling to fruiting is unparalleled. Iago carefully and meticulously placed careful thought in Othello's mind. The thought process not only expressed by Othello but also permeated through action and emotion. To conclude the comparison by definition, the entire tragedy draws ...... middle of the paper ...... 2014. http://vccslitonline.cc.va.us/tragedy/aristotle.htm.Crawford, Alexander W. Hamlet, an ideal prince and other essays on Shakespearean interpretation: Hamlet; Merchant of Venice; Othello; King Lear. Boston RG Badger, 1916.Shakespeare Online. August 20, 2009. < http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/othello/othelloessay2.html > .Jameson. Shakespeare's heroines: characteristics of women, moral, poetic and historical. By Cheri L Larsen Hoeckley. Broadview Editions. Peterborough, Ontario: Broadview Press, ©2005. Kennedy, X J. and Dana Gioia. Literature: An introduction to fiction, poetry, drama, and writing. 7th ed. Boston, MA: Pearson, 2012.Zerba, Michelle L. “Modes of Tragic Doubt in Homer's Iliad, Sophocles' “Philoctetes,” and Shakespeare's “Othello.” Comparative Literature 61, no. 1 (Winter 2009 2009): 1 -25.Academic research completed, EBSCOhost.