In the play of Othello by William Shakespeare, the theme of uncertain vision clearly comes out in the story through the characters. Othello, who is the main character in the play, and his wife Desdemona bring out clearly the theme of uncertain vision in the story. On the other hand, in the play of Oedipus the king, the king is eager to get the truth about the murder of Laius. King Oedipus consults every available source in order to establish the truth about Laius’s murder. In Othello, a play by Shakespeare, Othello is a soldier; based on his introduction from the start. According to Desdemona’s father, he does not believe that his daughter fell in love with Othello. He dwells in the notion that Othello used witchcraft; in order to have her as his wife. The play describes Othello as moor, and Desdemona’s father accuses him of stealing his daughter. Brabanzio’s strives to stop the marriage between the two; which eventually backfires .
In this perspective, Brabanzio, alongside Roderigo and others, accuse Othello, in front of the duke and the senate, of stealing Desdemona from her father. However, the accusations advanced by Brabanzio and his fellow sympathizers do not convince the duke and the senate. In the pursuit of justice, Othello gets a chance to speak for himself against the accusation in front of the duke and the senate. To which he endeavors to convince the audience of how he wooed Desdemona with stories of his travels and adventures in the war. On the contrary, he rejects claims that he wooed and won Desdemona through witchcraft. At this point, the duke finds Othello statements convincing; as compared to the accusing party.
On the other hand, in the play “Oedipus the king”, Oedipus finds himself in a situation they, with his wife, hide secrets and truth from each other. Oedipus is eager to find out who murdered Laius. The main intention behind this search is so that the king can mediate on the plague that has accosted the City of Thebes. On his search for the murderer, the king asks the blind prophet, Tiresias, about what he knows concerning the death of Laius. However, the prophet endeavors to disseminate incomplete information on the matter. In this case, King Oedipus insults the blind prophet and accuses him of the murder of Laius. It is at this point that the old man reveals that it was the king who murdered Laius. However, the prophecy does not convince the king.
In this case, there are two sides, which do not, come into terms with each other on a certain issue. Additionally, both sides tend to have opposing views. As such, the two parties find themselves in a conflict; leading them to the duke and senate in search of a resolution. According to the duke and senate, both parties have to advance their defense; while the senate decides the rightful party. Othello claims to have whom Desdemona’s hand while through his charms and tales. Additionally, he mentioned that he did not win Desdemona through witchcraft; as her father claimed. In retrospect, Brabanzio gets into conflict with his daughter for not believing her. To this end, she goes with her husband in adventurous war mission. In the end, the duke and senate rule in favor of Desdemona.
Accordingly, Brabanzio was ashamed to lose the case and at the same time lose her daughter. Accordingly, Brabanzio thought that Othello took away her daughter using witchcraft. On the other hand, the case of Oedipus and Jocasta revolves around the same aspect of truth and belief. However, in this case, Oedipus tries to put to an end a plague accosting Thebes. In this case, Oedipus sends for help to the oracle at Delphi. Consequently, the oracle claims that there are some conditions to be met before eliminating the plague from the city. The oracle postulated that the plague would be eliminated if the Laius’s murderer goes to exile by order of the authorities.
Therefore, the uncertain vision comes out in the story when Oedipus tries to figure out who murdered Laius. From this perspective, several prophets approach Oedipus since the prophecy points at him as the murderer. However, neither Oedipus nor Jocasta wants to admit the truth on Laius murder. Jocasta is knowledgeable on a prophecy that revolves on a child who was going to kill her father and then sleep with her mother. On the other hand, Oedipus does not want to hear the prophecy about him killing his father and sleeping with his mother. Jocasta comes to find the truth behind the prophecy and finally commits suicide. On the other hand, Oedipus learns about his mother's suicide and follows suit. Therefore, both stories have the theme of uncertain vision; as demonstrated by the aforementioned characters. Additionally, the story about Oedipus ends up in a tragedy manner. On the other hand, Desdemona disagrees with her father and disappears with Othello in their adventure.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, W. (2006). Othello. California: Nám.
Sophocles. (2008). Oedipus Trilogy: Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus & Antigone. New York: The Floating Press.
