Table of contentsOthello's pride from Shakespeare's point of viewThe proud nature of Sophocles' last thoughts OedipusPride, a feeling which has both a good connotation and a negative connotation, is also the feeling that maybe we have too much, so when do we know we have too much? By reading the plays Othello by William Shakespeare and Oedipus by Sophocles, we can see how similar Othello and Oedipus are in pride. Both characters prefer to be arrogant, which leads these characters to make the lifelong decision that causes their downfall in their plays. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Othello's Pride from Shakespeare's Perspective In the play Othello written by William Shakespeare, Othello's excessive pride is the cause of his downfall. His pride prevents him from seeing the truth; he believes that those close to him will never betray him and this is where everything goes wrong for Othello. At the beginning of the play, Othello is deeply in love with Desdemona, daughter of the Venetian senator Brabanzio. She and Othello marry secretly despite her father's disapproval. At the beginning, we can see that Othello and Desdemona have a strong relationship. Othello is accused of using magic to make Desdemona fall in love with him, but he goes on to explain how he wooed her. Othello says: “…I consented, and often seduced her with her tears when I spoke of a painful stroke from which my youth suffered. My story finished, she gave me for my pains a world of sighs. She swore, with faith, that it was strange, it was quite strange, it was pitiful, it was wonderfully pitiful… It was the only witchcraft I used. Here is the lady. Let her witness it.” Othello continues to express how strong his love is for Desdemona when it comes to a celebration, he says to Desdemona: “Come, my dear love, the purchase made, the fruits must flow from it; this profit is yet to come “between me and you”. In this passage, Othello shows that he only wishes good for his marriage and that nothing bad will happen between them because of their love. However, their strong love begins to fade due to Othello's pride and trust in Iago. Iago is the standard bearer and is upset that Othello has given the position of lieutenant to the inexperienced Cassio. To take revenge, Iago first begins to put in Othello's head the idea that Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio. He sets the handkerchief plan in motion; where Emilia takes the handkerchief and Iago places it in Cassio's hands. He also places in Othello's head the ideas that Cassio dreamed about Desdemona. With Iago's plan in play, Othello instantly believes Iago over his wife Desdemona. Othello doesn't bother to find out the truth, showing that the connection between him and Desdemona is no longer there. After feeling so much sorrow, Othello ends up killing his wife and towards the end of the play, he ends up committing suicide. Through this play, Othello's pride causes his greatest downfall. Proud Nature of Sophocles Oedipus Similarly, the play Oedipus written by Sophocles also shows Oedipus being excessively proud. Oedipus' excessive pride drives him to escape the oracular prophecies, but in doing so he ends up fulfilling the prophecy and blinds himself. The only difference between Oedipus and Othello is that Sophocles allows Oedipus to reenact the stories. At the beginning of the play, Oedipus tells Creon that he will find justice for King Laius and that anyone who kills him will be punished and killed. Little does he know that he is foreshadowing that it could be a..