Examples Of Allusions In Othello

Italian novelist and literary critic Umberto Eco once said “Never affirm. Always allude; allusions are made to test the spirit and probe the heart.” But how do these allusions “probe the heart” or “test spirit”? Moreover, what do allusions truly provide in literary tragedies such as William Shakespeare’s Othello? An allusion, per the Oxford English Dictionary, defines an allusion as “an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly.” Deities, historical events, and literary works are often the focal points of these references, but not always are these references used in the way that Shakespeare uses them in the tragedy of Othello. In Othello, Shakespeare uses allusions to develop the themes of the play, via

This allusion that Iago makes explains the theme of fatal pride. By referencing King Stephen, Iago refers to the downfall of Othello as he is too trusting, and thus, that pride will make him careless and oblivious to better judgement, thus resulting in the murder of Desdemona and his ultimate fall, hence building upon the theme. In history, locations, race, and culture were the cause of much conflict. This same concept can be applied to Othello, which utilizes allusions to refer to the relevance of these places and peoples to develop his themes, more specifically, the geographical allusions built mainly upon the theme of civilization versus savagery. The theme of revenge and jealousy is explored thoroughly in Shakespeare’s work, referencing the strategic island of Cyprus a multitudinous amount of times. Aside from being the setting of the play, Cyprus enlarges the prevalence of savagery in the play. A councillor of the Duke of Venice first mention this location when they are discussing the possibility that the Turks went towards Rhodes rather than Cyprus. The reference to Cyprus made is also one to the nature of the island that made Shakespeare choose that as the setting of the unorderly conflicts in Othello. As the Turks were viewed as jealous, unhuman, and creatures of discord, the island of Cyprus would have shared such the same that made it appealing to capture. This would explain much of the altercations having occurred in the island, thus building upon civilization versus savagery. Furthermore, the idea of savagery is carried on and amplified by the Turkish, whom of which were the main reason that Othello went to the island of Cyprus. Perhaps the most prominent example demonstrating the allusion’s hidden theme development is when Othello is found breaking up the altercation between Montano and Cassio