Antigone and Othello: Tragic Heroes

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Othello and Antigone are both tragic heroes. They do great deeds and have great power or strength. For example, Othello defeats Venice's enemies. Antigone makes sure that a Theban right is a Theban due. But fatal character flaws destroy the lives of the two heroes. Both of them suffer from pride and uncontrolled passion. Othello is so proud of his integrity and courage that he doesn't recognize his violent temper and his manipulability by Iago. Antigone is so proud of her commitment to the true, the right, the proper, and the correct that she doesn't respect differing, less passionate opinions. Antigone tragic specific representation in the law between the country and God, while Othello tragic is reflected in Othello’s character defect.

In the play Antigone, the conflicting characters were Antigone and Creon. The focus of the conflict is Antigone. On Creon's side, he should be obey the law and let Polynices's body "laid in the earth", But for the affection of his brother, from the religious obligations and law of God, she has the responsibility to bury her brother's body, or at least mourn him. Creon is not necessarily wrong with his decision; he is simply intoxicated with his new authority.

It is generally held that the tragic essence of Antigone lies in the state’s brutal suppression of individual emotions and humanity. However, it is not only individual emotions and humanity, but also family honor and responsibilities that Antigone tries to defend and fulfill. So it is not completely true that what Antigone stands for is timeless and universal justice. The tragic conflict of the play consists in the extremist attitude Creon and Antigone hold towards the state law and the family honor. The fundamentalist ideas of the state ...

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...o realize hypocrisy and cruelty of the reactionary force and puerility and weakness of the progressive force1And therefore he advises humankind to keep the clear - headed mind , to try to overcome their own weakness , to endeavor to struggle against the reactionary class and the reactive force within their own class , and to strive for their happy life. So this great piece owns historical and realistic significance.

Additionally, both of the heroes make duty their first priority. They do so to the exclusion of all else. Othello makes the sanctity of his marriage vows his quest. So he listens to the villainous Iago and ignores the oaths of Desdemona and the whisperings of his own conscience and his own heart. And Antigone makes the proper burying of Polyneices, her traitorous brother, her quest. To that end, she sacrifices companionship, family ties, and romance.

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