Borderline Personality Disorder In Othello

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People with borderline personality disorder have constantly shifting self-images which can lead to fading moral values. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, “There are sudden and dramatic shifts in self image, characterized by shifting goals, values, and vocational aspirations” (664). This can be seen in Othello because everyone considered him to be an amazing general with the highest of moral values. However, after the events that transpired during the play, he was left as nothing more but a shell than his former self. He had become so consumed with getting revenge that his personality warped around his poisonous goals. The play says, “Thou dost stone my heart, / and makes me call what I intend to do / a …show more content…

While Othello does have a severe fear of abandonment which is a trait of dependent personality disorder, individuals more so react to these fears by becoming “submissive” to the person they feel is abandoning them (American Psychiatric Association 666). This is very different from Othello because he becomes angry and lashes out at those he thinks are abandoning him, which moreso follows borderline characteristics. Additionally, those with borderline personality disorder tend to have more “unstable” and “intense” relationships as compared to those with dependent personality disorder …show more content…

While that is true, the book does give some background to Othello, and that background gives enough information to determine that he does, in fact, have this disorder. A major indicator that someone may be suffering from borderline personality disorder is, “A history of early loss or traumatic abandonment is also common, possibly due to death of a parent or parental separation” (International). Othello’s time as a slave was obviously very traumatic, however as a runaway slave, he had to leave his parents behind, assuming they were in the same place to begin with. Being left without any parental figures would result in a lapse of good judgment as he never had anyone to learn from, which he later displays when he so easily believes Iago’s lie and later kills Desdemona. Additionally, those that suffer from borderline personality disorder, “...may show worse performance in unstructured work or school situations” (American Psychiatric Association 664). Not only was Othello in the army, he was a highly respected general, meaning he embraced the rigorous military life and schedule. For the week or so that he was in Venice, the Turks were defeated so there was no enemy to be fought, no need for the strict plans he was so used to, which allowed him to embrace a more lax lifestyle

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