The future is decided and determined for us by our actions and choices. Humans get to determine which path they desire to proceed along, even if it may seem like the wrong choice. The flaws that each human possesses also contribute to shaping our destinies. Just like in the tragic dramas, the hero of the play exhibits flaws that influence their demise and defeat. A tragic drama is defined as a drama where the hero, or the main character, is brought to devastation or to endure pain and distress. It is usually an outcome from one’s tragic flaw or weakness. The demise of Othello and the downfall of Oedipus are brought about from their own flaws. Othello’s reliance and dependence on the wrong person, jealousy, and low confidence would lead him to choose the wrong choices. Oedipus holds the flaws of stubbornness to accept the truth, acceptance of his fate and arrogance. Both heroes share the weakness of pride, which will bring them shame and losses. These flaws would unquestionably lead to their tragic endings.
Pride is a fatal characteristic that is the major weakness of Othello and Oedipus. Not only did pride bring about the collapse of their lives, but brought death and agony to those that surrounded them. In Othello, Iago was toying with Othello’s pride (his major weakness). In doing that, Othello came to believe that his actions and choices are just and moral. Othello believed he was bringing Desdemona to “justice”, but it really was an act out of revenge. Othello was disappointed to hear that Desdemona is “cheating” on him with Cassio, who was the lieutenant of Othello. Iago and Othello, in cooperation, devised a plan to kill Desdemona:
Iago: Do it not with poison. Stranger her in bed, even the bed she hath contaminated.
Oth...
... middle of paper ...
...jealousy and poor judgement led him to trust the wrong people and determine the dreadful fate of others. Due to the choices Othello made, Desdemona and Emilia were murdered. Othello even killed himself after realizing that Desdemona truly loved him. It is very heartbreaking that tragic dramas must end in such a catastrophic way for the heroes.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William. Othello. New York: Pocket Books, 1957. Print.
Sophocles. “Oedipus Rex”. Elements of Literature. Orlando: Holt, Rhinehart and Winston, 2006. 199-262. Print.
SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on The Oedipus Plays.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2002. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. .
Java, Amy. “The Truth of Fate”. A Critical Analysis of “Oedipus the King”. HubPages, June 23, 2009. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. .
Othello wondered if Desdemona really loved him, or if she was just using him to rebel against her father. With Iago constantly putting these ideas in his head, Othello was convinced to kill his wife. Cassio was known to be a good soldier, and is proud of that public perception.
While alone with Othello, Iago subtly reminds him of Desdemona’s previous relationship with Cassio and her betrayal of her father. Iago then proposes, “As- to be bold with you-/ not to affect many proposed matches/of her own clime, complexion, and degree.” (III.iii.65) Iago starts off with the statement “as to be bold with you” in order to establish a warning that he does not know the complete truth, and this is only a mere suggestion. Iago does this because he, in no way, wants to be held responsible for anything that Othello may do, and the fact that he gave this warning further proves he is not guilty of Othello’s future actions. After Iago plants this worry in Othello’s head, he quickly confirms, “’tis the plague to great ones/ Prerogatived are they less than the base. (III.iii.67) Othello refers to being cheated on, as a “plague” specifying that he believes it is an act that is unavoidable. Othello already accepts that Desdemona has slept with Cassio and figures it was destined to happen to him. This lack of certainty and knowledge regarding women causes him to believe everything Iago says. As soon as Iago elicits Othello’s insecurities, his self conscious side takes over and automatically decides that Iago must be telling the truth, this is Othello’s first
Sophocles intentionally gave certain flaws in character type to Oedipus—he intended a downfall. That was the purpose of all ancient Greek drama: it was meant as “a dramatic reminder of [their] own mortality”. Sophocles used his plays in order to force people to learn at other’s mistake. Oedipus is a perfect example. His tragic flaws, persistence and ignorance caused his inevitable doom
Boston: Pearson, 2013. 1396-1506. Print. The. Sophocles. “Oedipus the King” Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing.
Oedipus the King tells the tragic story of Oedipus and how Oedipus unwittingly fulfills his prophecy. Oedipus prophecy was that he would murder his father and marry his mother. Oedipus grew up in the kingdom of Corinth where he believed that he was the son of the Kings of Corinth; when Oedipus discovered that he is destined to kill his father and marry his mother, Oedipus decides to leave Corinth and try to prevent the prophecy from happening. Unknowingly to him during his escape from his destiny, Oedipus murderers his father and eventually marries his mother and fulfils the prophecy. After reading Oedipus the King I believe that one of the main ideas of Oedipus the King is that Oedipus own tragic flaws lead to the fulfillment of the prophecy and his eventual downfall.
Her confession then confirms that Desdemona was faithful and did not deserve to die and as a result she shows one that love can be foolish and naïve. Her love and loyalty to Iago causes her to deceive her friend and this ends with both women being killed because the love they possessed for too foolish men. Othello is responsible for murdering Desdemona; Iago is
Othello's reputation also plays a big role in this play and the outcome of it. He has the reputation of a no nonsense military general. This status in fact partly causes Desdemona's death. He becomes so distraught when he hears from Iago that Cassio and Desdemona and cheating on him he becomes angry and wants to kill her. "I will chop her into messes! Cuckold me?" He is surprised and astonished that she would go behind his back and do this. His reputation doesn't allow him to confront her with the situation and talk things over. He is also angry that his reputation would be tarnished when found out that he is a cuckold. He proves that his reputations means a lot to him when he says, "For nought I did in hate, but all in honour." Othello believed that reputation was everything, because of his status as a general and the fact that those under him and above him respected him. Othello's reputation played a big role in the outcome of the play and in part caused Desdemona's death and his own.
That’s Othello’s weakness that Iago deems as useful. Othello’s love turns to jealousy. The question is how sympatric is Othello to the reader. Othello feels betrayed. But Othello loses his look of a gullible, good guy when he decides he wants Cassio and Desdemona dead. The rage of his jealousy turns the character of Othello the readers know on its head and creates a different look. Only during and after the death of Desdemona can the reader see the good that was once in him. Othello shows regret and kind of a sense of torment. Clearly parts of him doesn’t want this to happen. And after the death of Desdemona he sees the misplaced change and rage he had. When Othello hears of Iago’s disseat he changes back to the good Othello that was present in the start of the play. He might be filled with regret and a new rage for Iago, but is morals seem solid
According to Aristotle, the protagonist in a tragedy must have a tragic flaw that ultimately becomes the cause of his ruin. Oedipus in Oedipus the King by Sophocles tragic flaw that caused his downfall was his pride. Three examples of when Oedipus’ pride got the better of him were: when he left his adopted parents in Cornith, the second is when he goes against Creon, and the third is when Oedipus is demanding that the messenger tell him all he knows about who his real parents are.
Upon reading the play, there is an apparent class structure found throughout. In Oedipus Tyrannus, two mai...
Othello’s true flaw is not vile, destructive jealousy, but rather pure and prevailing love. He has a very strong character of virtue and nobility that is intact up to the horrid end. Iago’s deceit and trickery are more the cause of Othello’s tragic fall than any fault of Othello himself. This innocence and greatness of the tragic hero unequaled in any other Shakespearean tragedy is what gives the play its terrible irony and passion. Othello plays on the most powerful of all human emotions: faith and love, both embodied to the fullest in the great and honest Othello.
Iago’s hatred of Othello and Cassio causes him to seek revenge and he is able to succeed because his victims are too innocent to suspect him. Iago is a Machiavellian Shakespearean character who cunningly convinces his victims of his full moral support and proves his innocence in a way that his victims do not suspect him. When Cassio finishes his conversation with Desdemona about how he will not have his job back, Iago unfolds his mischievous plan against Desdemona when he says that, “so will I turn her virtue into pitch, And out of her own goodness make the net that shall enmesh them all” (Shakespeare, 49). Iago plans to destroy Othello and Desdemona’s marriage by using Desdemona’s kindness toward Cassio against her and make her look unfaithful in front of her noble hu...
In conclusion the downfall of Othello was because of his own weaknesses. His traits were the reason why Othello was responsible for the plays tragic outcome. Iago was able to control Othello like a puppet because of his easily manipulated conscience. He chose to make the poor decisions, trusting the wrong people. His mind got clouded by the obsession and jealousy of Desdemona. Othello’s own weaknesses were what led the tragic hero to his tragic
While his intentions were well meaning in the beginning, Oedipus finds himself weighed down by his own flaws. Tragically his flaws cause him to lose focus of his true objectives and damn himself to a life of misery. The tale of Oedipus depicts his rapid descent from Oedipus, savior and king of Thebes to Oedipus Tyrannus the man who slew his father and married his mother. Since Oedipus has so many tragic flaws there is a plethora to choose from. However, if Oedipus’s tragic traits could be described with two words it would be arrogant and imperceptive. First, Oedipus is arrogant. Additionally, Oedipus is imperceptive.
Oedipus is depicted as a “marionette in the hands of a daemonic power”(pg150), but like all tragic hero’s he fights and struggles against fate even when the odds are against him. His most tragic flaw is his morality, as he struggles between the good and the evil of his life. The good is that he was pitied by the Shepard who saved him from death as a baby. The evil is his fate, where he is to kill his father and marry his mother. His hubris or excessive pride and self-righteousness are the lead causes to his downfall. Oedipus is a tragic hero who suffers the consequences of his immoral actions, and must learn from these mistakes. This Aristotelian theory of tragedy exists today, as an example of what happens when men and women that fall from high positions politically and socially.