Literary Devices

In Othello, William Shakesphere used many different literary and rhetorical devices to express the theme of self - knowledge. Shakesphere used these devices to help the audience understand the theme a bit better, or make it more clear. These devices help us relate to the theme and the messages within the story.

Here are some of the most evident devices he uses:

• Soliloquy: Iago and Othello both exhibit their true self in the speeches they have to the audience
• Self Contradiction: An example is when Iago says "I am not what I am`, this means that he is not who he seems to be and is an imitation of someone or something else, representing his self knowledge.
• Irony: the characters in the play and the audience know and believe different things. The audience has knowledge of each of the characters personalities, and their own self knowledge.
• Another example of irony is when Iago says "I will wear my heart upon my sleeve", which means that you display your feelings openly, for all to see. However, Iago hides his true feelings, and shows his emotions falsely.
• Paradox: An example is when Iago says, "In following [Othello] I follow but myself,"  revealing that he only follows Othello for his own benefit to further his knowledge.

Other devices that are used throughout the play to represent self-knowledge include:Apostrophe,Alliteration, Simile, Metaphor, and Foreshadoring