Today, the concept of politeness is not associated with class consciousness or social discrimination anymore, but in the sixteenth century this term was commonly linked to deference and showing respect (Watts 34). Thus appropriate language behaviour was of utmost importance to Elizabethan society. People of that time were always anxious to please their interlocutors, especially with reference to forms of address.
Those address formulae had to be chosen accurately as they were very meaningful: Not only did they give information concerning personal relationships (Bruti 44) and emotions towards each other, but also about social ranks and hence power relations between speaker (S) and hearer (H). In Early Modern English times forms of address reflected the social hierarchy (Nevalainen & Raumolin-Brunberg 547; Replogle 102). So every title was assigned to a certain social status. To avoid using titles in an inappropriate or even impolite way, a lot of courtesy and conduct manuals were published (Watts 36).
In the following attention will be drawn on Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello (OTH) and the author’s use of address terms, particularly relating to salutations used by husband and wife and that between friends. Is Shakespeare’s choice of nominal address forms in accordance with Elizabethan conventions? By concentrating on the marital relationship between the characters Othello and Desdemona as well as on that between the two “friends” Othello and Iago, this term paper aims at answering this question. But before comparing Elizabethan conventions to Shakespeare’s dramatis personae, it is necessary to illuminate Brown and Levinson’s politeness concept that provides a basis for dealing with terms of address.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Brown and Levinson’s Concept of Politeness
3. Forms of Address in Early Modern English
3.1 Husband and Wife
3.2 Close Friends
4. Vocative Forms of Address in Shakespeare’s Othello
4.1 Husband and Wife: Othello and Desdemona
4.2 Friends: Othello and Iago
5. Conclusion
6. Works Cited
Research Objectives and Themes
This academic paper examines the linguistic conventions of address forms in Elizabethan England and explores how William Shakespeare utilized these nominal forms within his tragedy Othello. The study investigates whether the address strategies employed by characters such as Othello, Desdemona, and Iago align with contemporary social norms and how these forms serve as literary devices to reflect shifting power dynamics, emotional changes, and interpersonal conflicts.
- Analysis of Elizabethan politeness conventions and social hierarchies.
- Application of Brown and Levinson’s face-saving theory to dramatic literature.
- Examination of address forms in marital relationships between Othello and Desdemona.
- Investigation of the rhetorical manipulation of politeness in the "friendship" between Othello and Iago.
- Assessment of how nominal address serves as a tool for characterization and dramatic conflict.
Excerpt from the Book
4.2 Friends: Othello and Iago
The extremely fascinating “friendship” between the tragic hero Othello and his villainous fellow Iago is in no way of an equal kind. On the one hand the two characters are unequal concerning their power relations and on the other hand Iago just pretends to be his master’s friend. So what does this mean in view of their choice of address forms?
Holding the office of a general Othello is superior to his ensign. Of course his higher social rank allows him to apply positive politeness strategies to address his friend. Consequently he calls Iago by his Christian name (3.2.1), which is usually pre-modified by the adjective “honest” (1.3.295; 2.3.173). However, by addressing his fellow as “honest Iago”9 Othello also refers to Iago’s social inferiority. Empson even considers this term of address to be ambiguous because “the patronising use carried an obscure social insult as well as a hint of stupidity” (36).
With reference to Othello’s language behaviour it is pretty clear that his choice of salutations meets Elizabethan conventions. The imbalance of social status is unfolded by the way he talks to his friend Iago.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the historical significance of address forms in the sixteenth century and outlines the paper's intent to analyze Shakespeare's Othello through the lens of Elizabethan politeness conventions.
2. Brown and Levinson’s Concept of Politeness: This section explains the theoretical framework of face-saving theory, defining positive and negative politeness as strategies used to mitigate face-threatening acts within social interactions.
3. Forms of Address in Early Modern English: This chapter discusses the role of social hierarchy in address patterns, focusing specifically on marital dynamics and interpersonal relations between friends in the Elizabethan era.
3.1 Husband and Wife: This section explores how women often utilized negative politeness to signal subordination, while husbands typically employed more simplified, status-driven forms of address.
3.2 Close Friends: This part analyzes how social parity influences politeness, noting that power imbalances necessitate a shift toward more formal, negative politeness strategies even among close associates.
4. Vocative Forms of Address in Shakespeare’s Othello: This chapter introduces the application of Elizabethan address norms to the dramatic structure and character conflicts within Shakespeare's play.
4.1 Husband and Wife: Othello and Desdemona: This section examines the reciprocal use of address between Othello and Desdemona, highlighting how their linguistic shifts mirror their descent from intimacy into hatred.
4.2 Friends: Othello and Iago: This chapter investigates how Iago skillfully manipulates politeness strategies to maintain his facade of loyalty while influencing Othello's perceptions.
5. Conclusion: The concluding chapter summarizes that Shakespeare’s work generally mirrors the social conventions of his time, using address forms as sophisticated tools for dramatic development.
6. Works Cited: This section provides a comprehensive list of all academic sources, linguistic theories, and historical texts utilized throughout the research paper.
Keywords
Shakespeare, Othello, Elizabethan Era, Politeness Theory, Forms of Address, Brown and Levinson, Face-saving Theory, Social Hierarchy, Pragmatics, Elizabethan Conventions, Nominal Address, Decorum, Dramatic Literature, Marital Relationship, Interpersonal Communication
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper explores how Shakespeare uses specific nominal forms of address in his tragedy Othello to reflect Elizabethan politeness conventions and social power structures.
What are the central themes discussed?
The main themes include social hierarchy, the dynamics of marital and friendly relationships, the pragmatic theory of politeness, and the use of language as a literary device.
What is the primary research question?
The research aims to determine whether Shakespeare's usage of nominal address forms in Othello is consistent with historical Elizabethan conventions.
Which scientific method is applied?
The paper employs a pragmatic approach, specifically utilizing Brown and Levinson’s "face-saving theory" to analyze the sociolinguistic variables within the dialogue of the play.
What is the focus of the main body?
The main body examines the address patterns between Othello and Desdemona, and Othello and Iago, while grounding these observations in the broader context of Early Modern English social expectations.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include politeness theory, social hierarchy, Shakespearean drama, address forms, and Elizabethan society.
How does Othello’s address towards Desdemona change throughout the play?
Initially, Othello uses terms of endearment, but as Iago’s influence grows and his affection turns to suspicion, he shifts to abusive language that violates social norms.
What role does Iago’s politeness play in his manipulation of Othello?
Iago employs negative politeness and formal titles to appear as an obedient and trustworthy subordinate, effectively masking his underlying malice and hatred.
Does the paper conclude that Shakespeare’s representation is authentic?
Yes, the author concludes that Shakespeare’s plays reflect the society he belonged to rather than creating an artificial one, despite minor dramatic deviations.
Why is the term "honest Iago" significant in this analysis?
The term is identified as an example of patronizing speech that reinforces the social gap between the general and his ensign, carrying subtle hints of contempt.
- Quote paper
- Nadine Stuke (Author), 2011, Nominal Forms of Address in Shakespeare's 'Othello', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/200303
