1020 Fatal Flaw Paper

Emily Evans English 1020 Fatal Flaw Comparative Paper Mr.
Thoma 4/26/13
King Oedipus, Jocasta, and Othello are three characters in which their character flaws would cause them great grief, and eventually death. King Oedipus was written around is a Greek tragedy, and Othello is a tragedy by William Shakespeare that was written in the early 1600s. Both King Oedipus and Othello are the main characters in the plays. They are natural leaders and at the beginning are regarded well by their societies for being heroes. Jocasta is the mother, and wife of King Oedipus. Many people look upon both King Oedipus & Othello in high esteem. King Oedipus is well regarded by Thebes because he saved them from the Sphinx and her insurmountable riddle. When Thebes is stuck with the plague, the citizens all trust in King Oedipus because they believe that he will be able to save them, just like he did in the past. The people also respect King Oedipus because he is openly concerned for the people of Thebes. I grieve for you, my children. Believe me, I know.** Othello is well respected because he is an honored General in the Army. When Othello is referring to the stories about himself, he is very modest and does not take responsibility for all of his achievements. While the whole community of Thebes respects King Oedipus, he is also very boastful and quick to remind his audience that he conquered the sphinx (therefore he can conquer anything). Consequently, there are people who do not respect Othello, such as Iago, who described Othello as an old black ram(***) Jocasta and her husband, King Laius, had their son, and then heard a prophecy that their son would kill his father and then bare children with his mother. In an attempt to escape this fate, they impaled a rod through his feet and put him in the designated place for unwanted and/or handicapped children. A shepherd came and took pity on the
Emily Evans English 1020 Fatal Flaw Comparative Paper Mr. Thoma 4/26/13
baby, he named him Oedipus (which means swollen foot, poor guy) and took him home. Later in his life he was traveling to the city of Thebes, and on his way, killed Laius (who he thought was a poor traveler), therefore fulfilling the first part of the prophecy. When he arrived in the city the word of the kings death has already spread through the city. He defeated the sphinx and then married Queen Jocasta, who is his mother and as a result, fulfills the last part of the prophecy. After Teiresias comes to Oedipus and tells him about the prophecy, and Jocasta discovers what she has done, she commits suicide. Both King Oedipus and Othello had flaws in their character that contributed to their fall. King Oedipus was a very egotistical man, which is evidenced through the scene where Teiresias approaches Oedipus with the prophecy from the Oracle of Delphi. To no ones surprise, his first reaction to Teiresias anecdote is denial. Oedipus quickly charges Teiresias with conspiring in the plague, I tell you I do believe you had a hand in plotting***, and to further his insolence, insults him by referring to the fact that Teiresias is blind. Othellos character flaw is that he is made jealous of Cassio, whom he believes Desdemona is having an affair with; without any real evidence except a handkerchief, and Iagos made-up stories giving Othello the wrong idea. After Othello is convinced that Desdemona is cheating on him, he plots to kill Desdemona, Ay, let her rot and perish, and be damned tonight, for she shall not live!*** While both of these characters flaws contributed to their fall, King Oedipus could never stop his fall, but if Othello had not been deceived by Iago and become so jealous and untrusting of his beloved Desdemona, he may not have come to his imminent demise.
Othello was more responsible for his decline than King Oedipus was. King Oedipus fate was sealed before he was born by the prophecy made by the Oracle of Delphi. However, Othello could have easily avoided his fall, as his fall was motivated by jealously. Cassio was given the job of Lieutenant by Othello, and Iago believed that he was more deserving of the title. Othellos fall was based on Cassio and Desdemona having an affair. It is Othellos decisions that cause him to fall from his well-respected position, while it is King Oedipus destiny, which causes him to fall. Each character muddled through their decline in a different way. King Oedipus had said earlier in the play, His fate will be nothing worse than banishment***, when talking about the fate of the person responsible for the plague oppressing Thebes. However, when Oedipus found out that he had caused the plague (and about what he did with his own mother), he punishes himself by sticking pins in his eyes. He pierced his eyeballs time and time again, till bloody tears ran down his beard-not drops.*** He did this after finding Jocasta dead, and the pins that he blinds himself with are from her dress. His reason for blinding himself is so when he dies he cannot see his mother or father and the blame they place on themselves and on him. How could I meet my father beyond the grave with seeing eyes; or my unhappy mother, against whom I have committed heinous sin.*** King Oedipus bears the punishment he promised would be paid to the unclean thing and is banished from Thebes by Creon who succeeds him, Command no more. Obey. Your rule is ended. However Othello, schemes with Iago to kill Cassio and Desdemona. How shall I murder him, Iago? and she shall not live! Nevertheless, Othello is being fooled. He believes that by killing the gentle Desdemona
that he is saving himself. Iagos wicked set up is revealed when Emilia tells the story about the scarf. Othello not only realizes that he no longer holds his once esteemed position, but also he has murdered the woman that he contravened her own father to marry. Here is my journey end.*** The last scene is of Othello killing Iago, and then himself. I kissed thee, ere I killed thee: no way but this, killing myself, to die upon a kiss.*** The last line of Othello (and also of King Oedipus) reflects on the atrocities that have taken place, This heavy act with heavy heart relate.*** King Oedipus and Othello were both great men who lost their power because of events that they may have prevented had they either not challenged fate, or trusted the people around them. While King Oedipus fate was determined from his birth, Othello could have prevented his fate. Both dramas have the predominant theme that you cannot change fate and if you attempt to, the penalty will be death.

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Emily Evans English 1020 Fatal Flaw Comparative Paper Mr.

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