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Death of Hero in Othello (1603) and Romeo and Juliet (1595): Death and Dying Studies in English Literature

ELS Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities · Vol. 6 No. 3 (2023) · pp. 534–539

DOI
10.34050/elsjish.v6i3.29605
ISSN
2621-0835, 2621-0843
Published
2023-09-18
Publisher
Hasanuddin University
Language
en
License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

Abstract

This research focuses on the hero's death in two Shakespearean plays, Othello and Romeo and Juliet. It attempts to answer how the author depicts death and dying in Shakespeare's plays. Benstock and Dickinson, two specialists on death and dying, will provide an answer to the challenge. Benstock divides the death stages into three categories: deceased, moribund, and living-dead. Simultaneously, Dickinson mentions three periods of life: children strove (early life), gazing grain (physical maturity), and setting sun (ageing). This qualitative research uses textual analysis by deeply reading to describe the heroes’ deaths in the plays. The conclusion was that the hero's death is simply a Shakespearean device for revealing the truth about anything. The message of peace is Romeo and Juliet's death as a vehicle for unifying two opposing families, as in Romeo and Juliet's tragedies between Capulet and Montague. It explains why there should be death when peace can be easily achieved. Furthermore, the revelation of truth through death confirms Desdemona's loyalty to Othello.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

28 authors · 62 co-authorship links · 15 across different organisations

Hover or tap a name to highlight its co-authors. Double-click to open the author's page.

  • Universitas Halu Oleo
  • Khairun University
  • Indonesia Open University
  • Universitas Gadjah Mada
  • Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim
  • University of Technology Malaysia
  • Malikussaleh University
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Different organisations
  • Same organisation
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Thicker line = more joint articles · bigger circle = more articles
Show as table
Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
La NalefoAffiliation unknown2
Sitti Nur IsnianAffiliation unknown2
Risma Santi RaufUniversitas Gadjah Mada2
Eko HariantoIndonesia Open University2
Ety DuwilaKhairun University1
Siti Belinda AmriAffiliation unknown1
Masykur KimsanAffiliation unknown1
santi santiAffiliation unknown1
Rosmawaty RosmawatyAffiliation unknown1
Mardin MardinAffiliation unknown1
Imam TaziUniversitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim1
Nur Laila IsnainiAffiliation unknown1
Avin AinurAffiliation unknown1
Abdul Halim AbdullahUniversity of Technology Malaysia1
Nurain Nadhirah MohamadAffiliation unknown1
Sitti Fithriani SalehAffiliation unknown1
Muliani MulianiMalikussaleh University1
Henrietta Imelda TondongAffiliation unknown1
Abd Farid LewaAffiliation unknown1
Arie MainenyAffiliation unknown1
Asrawaty AsrawatyAffiliation unknown1
Desniar DesniarAffiliation unknown1
Joko SantosoAffiliation unknown1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://journal.unhas.ac.id/index.php/jish/oai, first harvested 3 Nov 2026, last seen 8 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en">Death of Hero in Othello (1603) and Romeo and Juliet (1595): Death and Dying Studies in English Literature</dc:title>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Rauf, Ramis</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Rezkiawan Faida, Fardan</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Ulya, Afriani</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Mutmainnah, Mutmainnah</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Harianto, Eko</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Death and Dying</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Othello</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Romeo and Juliet</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Shakespeare</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Tragedy</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en">This research focuses on the hero's death in two Shakespearean plays, Othello and Romeo and Juliet. It attempts to answer how the author depicts death and dying in Shakespeare's plays. Benstock and Dickinson, two specialists on death and dying, will provide an answer to the challenge. Benstock divides the death stages into three categories: deceased, moribund, and living-dead. Simultaneously, Dickinson mentions three periods of life: children strove (early life), gazing grain (physical maturity), and setting sun (ageing). This qualitative research uses textual analysis by deeply reading to describe the heroes’ deaths in the plays. The conclusion was that the hero's death is simply a Shakespearean device for revealing the truth about anything. The message of peace is Romeo and Juliet's death as a vehicle for unifying two opposing families, as in Romeo and Juliet's tragedies between Capulet and Montague. It explains why there should be death when peace can be easily achieved. Furthermore, the revelation of truth through death confirms Desdemona's loyalty to Othello.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Hasanuddin University</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2023-09-18</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://journal.unhas.ac.id/index.php/jish/article/view/29605</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.34050/elsjish.v6i3.29605</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en">ELS Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities; Vol. 6 No. 3 (2023): SEPTEMBER; 534-539</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2621-0835</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2621-0843</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.34050/elsjish.v6i3</dc:source>
	<dc:language>en</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.unhas.ac.id/index.php/jish/article/view/29605/10328</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2023 Ramis Rauf, Fardan Rezkiawan Faida, Afriani Ulya, Mutmainnah, Eko Harianto</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0</dc:rights>
</oai_dc:dc>