Language as symptom in Othello's fall

Abstract

Othello, the Moor of Venice is one of Shakespeare's best-known tragedies. The play is concerned with the hero's progressive downfall, which might be said to comprise three phases: apogee, breakdown, and guilt. Othello's peripetia is evident in its outward manifestation (i.e., his actions), but it also entails complex inner processes which cannot be directly inferred from his conduct. However, these can be identified via an analysis of the hero's linguistic resources at different points in the play. In this sense, the present paper aims to show that Othello's developing discourse is symptomatic of his mental and emotional disposition throughout his fall.