Othello: language

Othello: language

Overview of Othello’s Language

Shakespearean Verse

  • Othello is written predominantly in verse, as is typical for Shakespeare’s plays, especially his tragedies.
  • The main form of verse used is iambic pentameter, a pattern of five metrical feet, each consisting of one short/unstressed syllable followed by one long/stressed syllable.
  • This style of speech is associated with nobility and high status in Shakespeare’s works, thus it is mainly used by Othello and other nobles in the play.

Prose vs Verse

  • Characters in Othello switch between verse and prose. Prose often represents everyday speech and is used by characters of lower social status or during moments of extreme emotional distress.
  • Iago, although a significant character, often speaks in prose, subtly reflecting his duplicitous nature.

Racial and Animal Imagery

  • Racial and animal imagery have significant roles in Othello. Othello’s perceived otherness is frequently communicated through animal and racial imagery to reinforce his outsider status.
  • Iago frequently uses degrading animal imagery in his language to incite prejudice and manipulate others.

Intertextuality and Allusion

  • Shakespeare routinely uses intertextuality and allusion in his works, enriching the thematic depth and complexity of his plays.
  • In Othello, references to mythology, history, and contemporary events serve to wider the thematic scope and make the story more meaningful for the audiences.

Figurative Language

  • Shakespeare’s use of figurative language in Othello, such as similes, metaphors, and personifications, enriches the description and conveys deeper meanings.
  • Figurative language is particularly prominent in Iago’s speeches, reflecting his manipulative nature and psychological insight.

Soliloquies

  • Soliloquies provide insights into characters’ interior thoughts and feelings, illuminating their motivations and strategies.
  • In Othello, Iago’s soliloquies are crucial plot mechanisms, revealing his malicious intentions and cunning plans while maintaining dramatic irony.

Language, Power, and Manipulation

  • The ability to manipulate language is closely associated with social power and cunning in Othello.
  • Iago, although of a lower social status, is the character who most effectively uses language, adeptly manipulating words to deceive and control others.