There are many critical mistakes that one can make that have the potential to ruin your life, or possibly take your life. Both William Shakespeare and Sophocles both portray their protagonist’s character flaws through the critical mistakes they make in their plays Othello and Antigone. In Shakespeare’s play, Othello is a noble general who is well-respected by everyone around him. He is happily married to Desdemona. In Sophocles’ play, Creon is also in a position of nobility, being the king of Thebes. Creon is a newly appointed king who is ready to prove himself to his subjects. Both of these noble protagonists do possess leadership roles, however, their character flaws get the best of them. Both of these characters portray their lack of judgment by making critical mistakes, and they feel great remorse after realizing that they make a critical mistake.
The people around Othello know his trusting nature very well. Iago is quick to observe Othello’s “free and open nature” (1.3.400), and he is quick to exploit it. Iago informs Othello that his wife Desdemona has been engaging in a secret affair with Michael Cassio, Othello’s lieutenant. Othello, believing that Iago is “full of love and honesty” (3.2.135), makes no effort to investigate this shocking news. He doesn’t question Iago’s word because after fighting along side Iago as soldiers, betrayal isn’t an issue to Othello. Being a person who “thinks men [are] honest that but seem to be so” (1.3.401), Othello asks Iago to “Give [him] a living reason [that] she’s disloyal” (3.3.456).
The Essay on Othello – Iago And Emilia
What draws Iago and Emilia together? Did they marry for love? At one point in their relationship Emilia and Iago had to be in love. Love is what attracts two people together. Love, and the fact that they have similar interests. Perhaps Iago and Emilia got together because of their similar temperaments. Both Iago and Emilia are very practical people. They see things for what they are, not for what ...
Taking advantage of Othello’s gullibility, Iago says that he has heard Cassio speak of Desdemona in his sleep. Othello is completely blinded by his trust in Iago. Iago could make up anything we wants and Othello will believe every word of it without hesitation.
In contrast, Creon doesn’t trust anybody, even his own “son” (3.4) Haimon. He stands up for Antigone and tells Creon that punishing Antigone “is not right” (3.96).
Creon’s overwhelming pride prevents him from believing
his own son. Instead, he calls Haimon a “fool” (3.114) who “has sold out to a woman” (3.108).
Creon’s overwhelming pride doesn’t allow him to confide in his own son. This pride is also seen in Creon’s ruling of Thebes.
King Creon’s attitude in regard to ruling Thebes is noticeably impulsive. Creon rules in favor of a proper military burial of fallen Eteocles, claiming he “died as a man should die, fighting for his country” (1.29-30).
He also chooses to not give a proper burial to the “traitor” (1.39) Polyneices. Antigone strongly disagrees with this decision, believing that a man’s burial is “God’s proclamation” (2.57).
Creon, insisting that his law is higher than divine law, unexpectedly gets a reality check in the end after causing both his wife and son to commit suicide. In remorse, Creon admits to higher law that his actions were “rash and foolish” (Exodos.135).
Othello’s actions were also very foolish after he discovers that Cassio is allegedly “wooing” (3.1.79) Desdemona. After murdering his wife, he finds out that the allegations against his wife were completely false. In the end, Othello realizes that he “lov’d
[Desdemona] not wisely but too well”(5.2.396).
Othello’s blind trust in Iago leads to the remorseful act of taking
The Essay on Othello Iago Desdemona Wife
After reading Shakespeare's play OTHELLO you have to ask yourself is Othello as much a victim as he is a murderer? An assumption may be that because Othello kills his wife after the devious behavior of Iago, then maybe Othello is a victim of Iago's evil. Some may argue that the sin of Iago to plot the down fall of the moor, is worse because it becomes a calculating mind compared to Othello's sin ...
his own life because of his tremendous love for his “Sweet Desdemona” (3.3.466).
In conclusion, Shakespeare’s Othello and Sophocles’ Creon both show their lack of judgment by making critical mistakes and realizing it too late, and feeling great remorse afterwards. Othello’s blind trust in Iago leads him to believe Iago’s word and to neglect the faithfulness of Desdemona, and his irrational state of mind leads to the deaths of both his wife and himself. Creon’s “stubborn pride” (5.94) doesn’t allow him to admit that his decision is wrong. He feels he isn’t going against the “laws of God” (2.61); he just thinks the Gods will be displeased if a traitor is honored with a proper burial. Creon feels great remorse after he causes the suicides of his son and wife. Othello and Creon not only make critical mistakes that cause remorse in both of their lives, but their failure to realize their mistakes in time comes at the expense of their loved ones.