Essay Comparing Oedipus And Othello

A tragic hero is a character who makes either a single or a series of decisions that leads to his or her downfall. Sophocles and Shakespeare explore the tragic hero through their main characters Oedipus and Othello, respectively. While both are noble men, they both allow their pride to be their demise. Oedipus is at the will of a prophecy, of which he tries to overcome, but ironically succumbs to it. Othello, however, allows himself to be manipulated by Iago, and for this reason he is more responsible for his fate than Oedipus is of his.
Throughout the history of Western literature, authors have explored the question of personal responsibility versus destiny. Through examining literary depictions of these questions, it becomes possible for an individual to consider the nature of
The first example of such behavior occurs when Othello asks Desdemona where her handkerchief is. Rather than being convinced by her claims that it is truly lost, he berates her and immediately jumps to the conclusion that this is proof of her infidelity with Cassio. Desdemona attempts to defend Cassio, saying, “A man that all his time/ Hath founded his good fortunes on your love,/ Shared dangers with you,” but Othello only responds, “The handkerchief!” to which she replies, “In sooth, you are to blame” (Act III, iv). This statement is significant in that it shows that Othello is more committed to believing his own personal narrative than he is in trusting the goodwill of people, namely the person he claimed to love most. Later, Othello exhibits a similar mindset when Emilia tries to convince him of Desdemona’s innocence after he has killed her. She pleads, “I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest,/ Lay down my soul at stake: if you think other,/ Remove your thought; it doth abuse your bosom” (Act IV,