Othello And Creon Analysis

It’s important to think before one acts rather than acting on irrational emotions because it could ultimately lead to a person’s downfall. In “Othello” and “Antigone,” both Othello and Creon are confronted by their tragic flaws of irrational passions—excessive pride and jealousy. While possessing differing tragic flaws, both men ultimately suffer from the results of their decisions after it was too late to recognize their flaw. In Shakespeare’s “Othello,” Othello is highly respected and looked up to but later is influenced by the antagonist, Iago, resulting in a jealous insecurity ultimately leading to his murdering of his own wife and the plotting of murdering of his ex-lieutenant, Cassio. The reader first notices Othello’s shift in character
The reader first notices Creon’s excessive pride when he speaks of his rule as superior to the gods. Creon exclaims, “Am I to rule this land by other judgment than mine own?” signifying his complete disregard for the gods’ superior rule over his own (Sophocles). By highlighting his own pride in his rule and disregarding that of the gods, Creon presents himself with a certain god-like superiority. The reader further sees Creon’s self-infatuation when he corrects the prophet, Teiresias, claiming, “Well, the prophet-tribe was ever fond of money,” suggesting that Tiresias prophesizes falsely only in pursuit of money out of arrogance and pride that he was wiser than the prophet himself (Sophocles). Creon’s excessive pride is finally confronted by the gods’ powerful control over Creon’s life. In taking his own wife and son, the gods put Creon in his place exhibiting their superiority over him and exposing Creon’s own human weakness despite his intense pride. “Woe, woe!” Creon cries. “I thrill with dread. Is there none to strike me to the heart with two-edged sword? O miserable that I am, and steeped in miserable anguish! (Sophocles)”. In Creon’s anguish, human weakness is exposed as well as the faulty security in excessive human