Pride can be Fatal in Literature
Pride can be Fatal in Literature
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). 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...