Examples Of Nobility In Othello

Nobility is distinguished by both Othello as well as Oedipus. Oedipus is brought to nobility through birth and by deed. Oedipus is the son of King Laius and Jocasta, who becomes his wife as well, the King and Queen of Thebes. From the prophecy, it is claimed that King Laius will be murdered by his own son. To prevent this from happening, Oedipus is left for dead in “The mountains where Cithaeron is” ( ). But he is rescued by a shepherd and raised by “Polybius… King of Corinth/ and Merope” ( ). Oedipus is both noble in upbringing as well as through deed. It is so because he solved the riddle of the Sphinx, who is to blame for the terror throughout the city. It is because of Oedipus glory, as he rids the city of such a terror, that he is deemed …show more content…
Othello gains nobility through his distinguished career. He is seen as an outside, but is yet accepted by the Venetian people because of his contributions as General of the Army. Othello asserts “I fetch my life and being/ from men of royal siege” ( ). It is because of his time in the Army that dignifies him royal. By the Venetian people, he is sought out as “Brave Othello” and decides he “Commands/ life a full soldier” ( ). Both Othello and Oedipus have nobility that turns them into the tragic hero they are doomed to become.
Oedipus and Othello both succumb to a flaw most tragic heroes suffer from, that being pride. Oedipus’s pride is that he believes he is greater and more powerful than any other god. He also believes he is the sole entity that controls his own destiny. At the beginning of the story, a priest approached Oedipus and begs for his help for the people, saying “It was God/ that aided you, men say, and you are held/ With God’s assistance to have saved our lives” ( ). This is in reference to the riddle of the Sphinx, and now God aided Oedipus in finding the answer, thus freeing the city from oppression. Oedipus’ pride is then revealed when speaking of solving of the riddle and says “But I …show more content…
Shame has become Oedipus’ [ride when his father’s murder and infidelity are both broadcasted throughout the city and among the people. Due to this, he begins to lose that in which hold of high value to him. For instance, he loses Jocasta, his mother and then becomes his wife, when he finds her “hanging, the twisted rope around her neck” ( ). He then takes her “Gold chased brooches fastening her robe” ( ) and proceeds to use them to strike “them upon his eyeballs” ( ) which causes him to lose his sight. Lastly, his kingdom is lost, just as Tiresias’s prophecy claimed: “Blindness for sight/ beggary for riches his exchange” ( ). Oedipus took his pride for granted, and lost all that he knew and had. Othello’s pride is revealed as shame when he believes the villain, Iago, and commits his wife’s murder. He loses his Desdemona, his true love, who in turn forgive Othello while on her death bed. She forgives him, and then proceeds to hide his guilt. Othello asks “who has done this deed?” and she responds “Nobody- I myself” ( ). Othello later on admits he “threw a pearl away/ Richer than all his tribe” ( ). His honor is completely lost, he is then replaced and reprimanded as a murderer. He ultimately succumbs to his life revealing “[he] took by the throat the circumcised dog/ and smote him thus” ( ). He says this in the midst of committing his own suicide. Succumbing to that of pride, and finding out