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From the word itself, a Tragic hero means a protagonist created for tragic work in the literature. The tragic hero character mainly represents the consequences that arise from one possessing a personal flow. Traditionally, a tragic hero was used to evoke pity among the audience through the consequential fall. In this case, Aristotle described the tragic hero in Greek drama. It was a male character who experiences a reversal of fortune as a result of a tragic flaw. For example, Oedipus Rex, the protagonist in the Sophocles tragedy, is regarded as a tragic hero. Oedipus falls badly because of his arrogance and bad mistakes. Therefore, the public must understand their fate (Barstow, 2).
Othello and Oedipus are good examples of tragic heroes. Both of the characters were people who had great power and influence as the protagonists of their tragedies. Othello and Oedipus Rex were the main characters and had great authority and notoriety. Othello was a highly respected man and had a fine reputation as a general in the Venetian army. Oedipus, on the other hand, was the new king of Thebes. Both were highly respected and also had significant influence and respect in the community. They affirmed the great importance and status of authority in their churches in their day. Their reference to power and power in society was also evident in how they reached positions of influence. Both were forced to overcome obstacles and opposition to gain prestige and authority.
Othello was black when the Caucasians were considered the best race and were therefore outraged on his day. As a human being, the company was not very important, and the outlook was low because of skin color. For example, Brabanzio, Desdemona’s father, refused to allow the couple to marry just because Othello was black. Oedipus, on the other hand, was white in his community, but he also faced some form of opposition and difficulty in gaining power. He had to solve the Sphinx mystery to achieve his goal of saving the city of Thebes. Then he was made king. Both Oedipus and Othello have some respect, although Oedipus’ honor is by birth, while Othello is genuine and active. Oedipus was born into a royal family, as he was the son of King Lai and his mother was Jocasta, who was the king and queen of Thebes. Although Oedipus must have died in the mountains after the prophecy that his son would kill the king, who was his father, the pastor rescues him. The pastor took him to the kings of Corinth and Merope, emphasizing his excellent upbringing, but he was also born to prominent people.
The dominant theme in Oedipus and Othello is Pride. The two actors in a tragedy play a major role and which also contributes to their downfall. Othello and Oedipus are men full of pride and arrogance before their fall. Because of their marginal success in life, they caused great shame and loss. Oedipus’ embarrassment manifests itself in how his courtship and even his father’s murder unfold, turning pride into shame. He also loses his mother and wife, Jocasta, when he commits suicide after learning what he did, and in a fit of rage and pride of not being able to bear the loss of his life. Oedipus’s loses his sight after hurting them with Brooches and boxes that fastened her mother’s robe. He loses his sight when he loses his kingdom. In his arrogance, Othello listens to the villainous Lago and kills his wife (Shakespeare). As a result, he loses his dignity in society and all the things that were so precious to him. He is described as a murderer, which makes him dishonest and a man who is no longer respected. Because of the loss, Othello could not bear the loss, and his pride forced him to commit suicide. Their character helps in the development of the theme of pride. The examples listed above show how their character led to the fate they got.
Finally, Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, and Othello, by William Shakespeare, are two literary works dealing with the tragedies of the protagonists. These two can be compared and contrasted, although they were written at different times. All the characters were heroes in their day and had a sense of honor, though one was born in honor, and the other gained respect through their actions. Also, all literature pieces were inspired by the conditions of their time, although they also reflected and described realities from different times. This shows that tragic heroes do exist. It only depends on the setting that is used in literature. The person who brought it up in a more elaborate manner is Aristotle. He knew that to capture the audience, and then one had to use such work.
Work Cited
Barstow, Marjorie. “Oedipus Rex as the ideal tragic hero of Aristotle.” The Classical Weekly 6.1 (1912): 2-4.
Shakespeare, William. The Oxford Shakespeare: Othello: The Moor of Venice. Vol. 21. Oxford University Press, 2006.
Work Cited