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Similar Themes in Different Stories EssayLiterature is universal. Literature speaks of universal human experience that readers and authors alike can relate to. Because of its universality, themes and messages in belles-lettres can be common in various texts. In fact, two different pieces of literature may exhibit similar qualities even if they were written by different authors. Such is the case for Oedipus the King by Sophocles and Othello by William Shakespe atomic number 18. Both plays share the concept of uncertain visual modality. Othello also shares a similar concept with Henrik Ibsens play A madams House in both plays, a malevolent character is responsible for the destruction of a marriage. Literature is and so 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 cecity (NovelGuide). The texts illustrate how people who are blessed with the g ift of sight can still be blind to what is real happening around them. Within this theme, there exists the concept of uncertain vision the impairment of ones perception. This impairment can result in the failure to differentiate 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 moment his fate was revealed, people tried to prevent its fulfillment by changing the course of events. According to the oracle, Oedipus was destined to kill his own bewilder and marry his own mother (Sophocles). Despite attempts to alter fate, Oedipus still lived his life as the oracle revealed.When a plague fell upon Thebes, Oedipus sought out a way to end it. Creon returned with word from the oracle, stating that the only way to end the plag ue is to punish the man who killed King Laius. According to Creon, In this land, said the god who seeks shall examine /Who sits with folded hands or sleeps is blind (Sophocles). This started Oedipus quest for the truth, which eventually led to the discovery 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 enactment 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. Just 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 wife Desdemona was cheating without seeing firsthand any evidence of her infidelity (Shakespeare).Rather, Othello was persuaded by Iagos terminology and planted scenarios. The latters efforts impaired the formers judgment, disabling him to abstract between his wifes truth and his colleagues lies. In Act V Scene II, Lodovico said to Iago This is thy work 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 madams 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 each character. Iago requireed to ruin Othellos marriage as revenge. In Act I Scene 3, Iago directly expresses his feelings for Othello I hate th e 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 order the Moor/ At least into a jealousy so strong/ That judgment cannot cure (Shakespeare). In Act I Scene 3, Iago, he makes his intentions overt After some time, to abuse Othellos ear/ That he is too 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 never mean to ruin the marriage of the Helmers. He was working at the same bank where Torvald Helmer works, and his employment was terminated because he was accused of forgery (Ibsen). He was desperate to move his job when N ora refused to help him, he was forced to reveal to Torvald the debt that Nora owed him. He never intended to destroy the marriage he was simply 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 husband is going to kick me to a lower prescribe again into the mud (Ibsen). Krogstad thought that blackmail was the only means through 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 pleasant 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 inherent 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. Project 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. html. Sophocles. Oedipus the King. Trans. F. Storr. P roject Gutenberg. 1912. 3 Sept. 2008 http//www. gutenberg. org/files/31/31-h/31-h. htm.