Tragic Hero Argumentative Essay

Antigone and Othello are fictional plays that depict tragedies seen in everyday life . The title character in each play has personality traits that every person can identify with . Their actions and emotions have been done and felt by every person that reads these plays . Furthermore those actions and emotions can lead to the same tragic results seen in both plays . Yet , in spite of the many similarities between the two there is one vast difference : Othello has the reestablishment of noble stature , while Antigone does not . Therefore , he is more suitable to be

a tragic hero than she is

When Antigone and Othello begin , the title characters are initially viewed as being noble , honorable , and respectable people . Yet , like every human being , both Antigone and Othello have flaws . The major flaw within Antigone is her stubborn , defiant nature . When she learns that Creon has declared that her brother Polynices should not be buried by anyone on pain of death , she is outraged and determined to do just what Creon does not want . Furthermore , she knows that it is against an ancient moral law for a family to be deprived the opportunity to bury their dead . Thus , while she has respect for the law , she has a higher respect for family , as evidenced by the following statement : I 'll still bury him . It would be fine to die / while doing that . I 'll lie there with him / with a man I love , pure and innocent / for all my crime . My honours for the dead / must last much longer than for those up here (Johnston , Lines 89-93 ) This respect for family above the law is admirable , yet it puts Antigone in an antagonistic light in regards to the role women play within ancient Greek society . They are meant to be docile and biddable women , yet Antigone 's defiance of Creon 's mandate makes her acquire an air of boldness that should only be seen in men Therefore , she is overstepping her boundaries as a woman , and this will have dire consequences for her

Othello 's flaws are different . For him , it is insecurity and jealousy that cause him difficulties . His insecurity stems from being a Moor Despite all the accolades he receives for his military prowess , he is viewed as being less than equal because he is black . Even Othello sees himself in a negative light : .Haply , for I am black / And have not those soft parts of conversation / That chamberers have , or for I am declined / Into the vale of years (Othello , Act III .iii .294-297 When he dares to marry a white woman , all the praise of the Venetians disappears . It is only after both Othello and his white wife Desdemona declare their love for each other that their union is accepted . Yet clearly there remains some underlying disapproval , as is always the case in interracial relationships

Othello 's second flaw of jealousy is the result of insinuations made to him by Iago concerning Othello 's wife Desdemona and...