A Topic of Pride in Othello by William Shakespeare and Oedipus by Sophocles

Pride can be both beneficial and detrimental, yet it becomes destructive when it exceeds reasonable limits. At what point does pride turn into a fatal flaw? By examining the plays Othello by William Shakespeare and Oedipus by Sophocles, we see how the protagonists’ excessive pride, or hubris, compels each to make decisions that ultimately lead to tragedy.

Othello’s Pride from Shakespeare’s Perspective

In William Shakespeare’s Othello, the titular character’s downfall emerges from his excessive pride. Othello’s self-assurance blinds him to the truth, particularly his assumption that those closest to him would never betray him. This unwarranted confidence becomes evident at the start of the play: Othello, a respected military leader, marries Desdemona, the daughter of Venetian senator Brabantio, despite her father’s disapproval. Initially, their bond appears strong. When Othello is accused of using magic to woo Desdemona, he responds by detailing how his stories of hardship won her heart:

“I did consent;
And often did beguile her of her tears
When I did speak of some distressful stroke
That my youth suffer'd. My story being done,
She gave me for my pains a world of sighs…
This only is the witchcraft I have used.”

He further demonstrates confidence in their relationship by telling Desdemona during a celebration, “Come, my dear love, the purchase made, the fruits are to ensue; that profit’s yet to come ’tween me and you,” implying he believes their union will remain secure and fulfilling.

However, Othello’s pride in his judgment allows him to trust Iago—his standard-bearer—over Desdemona. Iago resents Othello for promoting the inexperienced Cassio to lieutenant instead of him. Fueled by revenge, Iago convinces Othello that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair, orchestrating events such as planting Desdemona’s handkerchief in Cassio’s possession. Othello, too proud to question Iago’s motives or verify facts, chooses to believe Iago’s lies rather than his own wife’s pleas of innocence. Consumed by jealousy, Othello murders Desdemona and, once he discovers the truth, takes his own life. Shakespeare thus illustrates how Othello’s hubris propels his tragic downfall.

The Prideful Nature of Sophocles’ Oedipus

Similarly, Sophocles’ Oedipus portrays an excess of pride that causes the protagonist’s undoing. Oedipus’s hubris drives him to evade the oracle’s prophecies—yet in attempting to do so, he inadvertently fulfills them. Unlike Othello, Oedipus painstakingly uncovers the underlying truth, gradually piecing together the evidence that ultimately reveals the prophecy’s completion.

At the outset, Oedipus vows to find justice for King Laius’s death, declaring that Laius’s killer must be punished. Unbeknownst to him, this oath foreshadows his own guilt. He proclaims, “If this filth warms himself at my fire and I welcome him, I call upon myself the curse I hurl upon his head.” Moreover, he promises to fight for justice “as if he were my flesh,” ominously connecting himself to Laius.

Over time, Oedipus recalls an incident at the crossroads where he killed a man and his servants, though he initially refuses to accept that this act could tie him to Laius’s murder. As more information unfolds—from Teiresias’s accusations to a stranger’s admission that Oedipus is adopted—he comes to realize he has killed his father and married his mother, thus fulfilling the dreaded prophecy. Horrified by the realization that his hubris caused him to disregard the oracle’s warnings, Oedipus blinds himself rather than commit suicide, punishing himself for his blindness in judgment.

Parallel Downfalls and Recognition of Hubris

Both Othello and Oedipus share a fatal pride that triggers their tragic ends. Each man experiences a moment of recognition—anagnorisis—when he confronts his destructive flaw. Before dying, Othello laments, “Of one that loved not wisely, but too well.” His tragic love, guided by a fear of making mistakes and a refusal to investigate Iago’s claims thoroughly, epitomizes his hubris. Oedipus has a corresponding revelation after learning he himself murdered Laius: “All has now come out very clear. Light, I look on you for the last time. I am cursed to the backbone.” By trying to circumvent the prophecy, Oedipus inadvertently ensures it comes true and realizes his pride leads directly to his downfall.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, both Othello and Oedipus suffer tragic fates rooted in their own excessive pride. Othello’s unwavering trust in Iago and distrust of Desdemona lead to murder and suicide, while Oedipus’s relentless need to avoid the prophecy only brings it to fruition, compelling him to blind himself. Their stories warn that pride is a potent force: it can elevate one’s status if tempered with humility, but when unrestrained, it becomes a catalyst for disaster. The experiences of Othello and Oedipus illustrate how unchecked hubris can ruin great men, reinforcing pride as a complex and perilous emotion.

References

Shakespeare, W. (2004). Othello (E. A. J. Honigmann, Ed.). Bloomsbury Arden Shakespeare.

Sophocles. (1984). Oedipus the King (D. Grene, Trans.). In D. Grene & R. Lattimore (Eds.), The Complete Greek Tragedies (Vol. 1, pp. 33–70). University of Chicago Press.