Similar Themes in Different Stories Essay Example for Free

connatural Themes in Different Stories EssayLiterature is universal. Literature speaks of universal human experience that readers and authors a equal flock relate to. Because of its catholicity, themes and messages in literature john be common in various texts. In fact, 2 different pieces of literature may exhibit similar qualities even if they were written by different authors. much(prenominal) is the case for Oedipus the King by Sophocles and Othello by William Shakespe atomic number 18. Both plays component part the concept of doubtful deal. Othello also sh ars a similar concept with Henrik Ibsens play A Dolls House in twain plays, a malevolent character is responsible for the destruction of a pairing. Literature is indeed universal, as the messages it conveys are shared by different texts. Sophocles Oedipus the King and Shakespeares Othello carry a similar theme. Both plays share the theme of sight and blindness (NovelGuide). The texts illustrate how people who are blessed with the gift of sight shadow still be blind to what is really happening around them. Within this theme, there exists the concept of ambiguous vision the impairment of ones perception. This impairment can result in the failure to check off between what appears to be and what really is.In both plays, the lead character is characterized with uncertain vision. It is their uncertain vision that drives the play forward, and leads the character into his demise. On one hand, the uncertain vision as exhibited by Oedipus was brought upon him by fate. From the present moment his fate was revealed, people tried to prevent its fulfillment by changing the course of events. According to the oracle, Oedipus was fate to kill his own father and marry his own mother (Sophocles). Despite attempts to alter fate, Oedipus still lived his liveness as the oracle revealed.When a plague fell upon Thebes, Oedipus sought out a way to closedown it. Creon returned with word from the oracle, statin g that the only way to end the plague is to punish the man who killed King Laius. According to Creon, In this land, said the god who seeks shall find /Who sits with folded hands or sleeps is blind (Sophocles). This started Oedipus quest for the truth, which eventually led to the find of his destiny. When Oedipus mocked the blind seer Teiresias, this is what the latter said thou hast eyes, /Yet seest not in what misery thou art fallen, / Nor where thou dwellest nor with whom for mate (Sophocles).The passage states that while a blind man like Teiresias knows the truth, Oedipus is completely blind from it. On the other hand, the uncertain vision in Othellos case was presented in different way. If Oedipus uncertain vision was brought about by fate, Othellos uncertain vision was initiated by man. sightly like Oedipus the King, the theme of Othello is also sight and blindness. The character of Othello is the most blind, as he was convinced by Iago that his married woman Desdemona was c heating without seeing firsthand any evidence of her infidelity (Shakespeare).Rather, Othello was persuaded by Iagos haggle and planted scenarios. The latters efforts impaired the formers judgment, disabling him to distinguish between his wifes truth and his colleagues lies. In Act V Scene II, Lodovico said to Iago This is thy execute the object poisons sight (Shakespeare). This passage states that it was Iagos actions that altered Othellos perception and poisoned his mind. Thus, Iago was responsible for Othellos uncertain vision. Shakespeares Othello is also similar to yet another play, A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen.In both plays, a character seeks to ruin a marriage. In Othello, it was Iago who ruined the marriage of Othello and Desdemona. In A Dolls House, it was Nils Krogstad who sought to break up Nora and Torvald Helmer. However, the difference lies in the motive of apiece character. Iago wanted to ruin Othellos marriage as revenge. In Act I Scene 3, Iago straightway expre sses his feelings for Othello I hate the Moor (Shakespeare). Iago has two main reasons to hate Othello first, he married Desdemona whom Iago loved, and second, he chose Cassioto be the lieutenant instead of him.He wanted to punish Othello by making him accuse his wife of infidelity. In Act 2 Scene 1, Iago states Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor/ At least into a jealousy so strong/ That judgment cannot cure (Shakespeare). In Act I Scene 3, Iago, he books his intentions clear After some time, to abuse Othellos ear/ That he is in any case familiar with his wife. / He hath a person and a smooth dispose/ To be suspected, framed to make woman false (Shakespeare). Because he made Othello suspicious of Desdemona, Iago was indeed responsible for the failure of Othellos marriage.On the other hand, Krogstad neer planned to ruin the marriage of the Helmers. He was working at the same wedge where Torvald Helmer works, and his employment was terminated because he was accused of forgery (Ibsen). He was desperate to keep his job when Nora refused to garter him, he was forced to reveal to Torvald the debt that Nora owed him. He never intended to destroy the marriage he was patently trying to remain employed. In Act I, Krogstad said to Nora My sons are growing up for their sake I must try and win back as much respect as I can in the town.This post in the Bank was like the first step up for meand now your hubby is going to kick me downstairs again into the mud (Ibsen). Krogstad thought that blackmail was the only means by means of which he could keep his job. In Act II, he said I want to get on, I tell you. I want to get into the Bank again, in a higher position. Your husband must make a place for me (Ibsen). Unlike Iago, Krogstad was not responsible for the demise of the Helmers marriage. What really ended the marriage was Noras realization that she was merely a doll in the house. In the words of Nora to Torvald, You have never loved me.You have only thought it p leasant to be in love with me (Ibsen). Oedipus the King by Sophocles, Othello by William Shakespeare and A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen are three distinct plays by three different authors. Despite the apparent difference, all three works are connected because of indwelling similarities. The first two plays are similar in relation to its theme, while the last two plays are alike because of the role of a character which is instrumental in the destruction of a marriage. Indeed, literature proves its universality through the unintended similarities embedded in different texts.Works CitedIbsen, Henrik. A Dolls House. compute Gutenberg. 22 Feb. 2004. 3 Sept. 2008 http//www. gutenberg. org/dirs/etext01/dlshs11h. htm. Novel Analysis Oedipus the King. NovelGuide. 2008. 3 Sept. 2008 http//www. novelguide. com/oedipustheking/themeanalysis. html. Shakespeare, William. Othello. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. 2000 Nov. 13. 3 Sept. 2008 http//shakespeare. mit. edu/othello/full. htm l. Sophocles. Oedipus the King. Trans. F. Storr. Project Gutenberg. 1912. 3 Sept. 2008 http//www. gutenberg. org/files/31/31-h/31-h. htm.