Oedipus vs. Othello: Fate, Free Will, and Downfall

Introduction: Two Tragic Protagonists

The stories of Oedipus and Othello are both extremely complex and simple at the same time. They are simple in that both men fell prey to their own ignorance or emotions. They are complex in the manner in which they eventually reach that point and in the way they articulate the relationships among the many characters. Oedipus's downfall is due in large part to confusion about his birth, his childhood, and who his parents really are. Othello fell prey to his own jealousy and brash assumptions, compounded by the deceptions and actions of Iago and Cassio.

In the end, the assertion that Oedipus's downfall was caused by the gods while Othello's was self-inflicted is essentially true. However, neither case is quite that simple, as there were ancillary influences and actions in both. For instance, Oedipus's downfall was foretold, and this stood in contrast with his insistence that it would not come to pass. Othello's downfall, by comparison, is more predictable and substantially of his own making. Oedipus fell prey to the work of the gods, while Othello fell prey to his own jealousy, presumptions, and assumptions.

When considering whether Oedipus's downfall was due to the gods and Othello's was self-inflicted, the answer to both propositions must be affirmative. Oedipus had valid reasons to be concerned about who his blood parents really were. Othello's world became increasingly fraught through his own doing; he was conducting a secret relationship with Desdemona, and his jealousy regarding Iago and others led him to kill his love despite her innocence. The blame for this error in judgment falls squarely on Othello. While it is true that Iago deceived Othello, his own hasty actions were indefensible — a reality that ultimately drove Othello to take his own life.

Othello's Self-Inflicted Downfall

It is perhaps true that both Oedipus and Othello could have avoided their eventual ends through a measure of self-restraint and a stronger moral sensibility. Oedipus had a better excuse for his misdeeds than did Othello. Regardless, Othello was warned in advance and was acting on incomplete information — a situation he appears not to have recognized or cared to examine carefully.

Othello let his jealousy and assumptions override any doubts he may have had about the accuracy or completeness of the evidence presented to him. Certainly, both Cassio and Iago contributed to Othello's actions, but Othello could presumably have prevented events from spiraling out of control. A body of scholarly literature supports the thesis that Othello bears primary responsibility for his own downfall.

A number of tangents and theories can be explored in relation to Othello's circumstances and actions. Observations are commonly made about Othello's repeated use of the word blood at one point in the play. Some critics claim that this usage points to race, while others suggest it refers to bloodline, rank, and other factors more culturally relevant to the period. However, some scholars argue that Othello did not use the word to signal barbarism or to indicate that he took pleasure in what had occurred. Rather, the argument is that Othello was using the word to "repair his understanding of the world shattered by Desdemona's purported infidelity" (Feather, 2013). This suggests that Othello was taking stock of his actions and attempting to understand his own culpability for having killed his love out of jealousy and presumption (Feather, 2013).

The Role of Iago and Deception in Othello

Another viewpoint worth examining is that while Othello did not suffer his fate at the hands of the gods, he himself acted as a god when he judged Desdemona as unfaithful. Since he turned out to be wrong, this overreach was all the more unjustifiable and immoral. The stricken Othello kills himself at the end of the play, but this does not remotely undo the damage he caused. Othello's failure and downfall is ultimately mostly his own (Christofides, 2010). Indeed, Othello let his paranoia take over, and the resulting consequences were catastrophic (Riemer, 2005).

Some of the blame for Othello's fate certainly falls to Iago. Christofides (2010) asserts that Iago's "consummate, strategic manipulation of an unstable language tempts Othello to his doom." To be sure, Othello ultimately had control over his own actions. However, he was clearly being manipulated, and the roles of Iago and Cassio must be included in any thorough discussion of the tragedy. Regardless, Othello was being played against his better instincts, and he allowed it to continue until the very end. Perhaps his only consolation is that he maimed Iago before being taken into custody.

Something particularly vexing about Iago's role in the play is that while Othello's reactions and motivations are relatively easy to understand, Iago refuses at any point to explain his motives or why he acted as he did. Othello asks him directly, and Iago boldly declines to answer. This silence leaves Othello — and the audience — without resolution, deepening the sense of injustice surrounding the tragedy.

Conclusion: Lessons from Brash and Violent Reactions

The propensity for brash and violent reactions in both Othello and Oedipus is a lesson that everyone should take seriously. Indeed, such active deception can literally ruin lives if one of the aggrieved parties reacts hastily and violently. In modern times, this pattern is not universal but it certainly persists. People lie about even the most serious of actions, including rape, child abuse, and domestic assault. Othello and, to a lesser extent, Oedipus were victims of their circumstances, but both could have prevented — or at least slowed — the turn of events.