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Othello's Allusion To Ate In L. 448

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Othello's Allusion To Ate In L. 448
In this scene, several language forms and features were used to convey major themes and allow character development. “Arise black vengeance, from thy hollow cell” in L 448 is an allusion to Ate; the Greek goddess of delusion and folly who dwelt in infernal regions, exposing Othello’s shift of faith from good to evil.

In lines 551-2, Othello says “Swell bosom, with thy fraught, For tis aspics’ tongues” which refers to the tongue of a venomous snake. This exhibits the poisoning of Othello’s heart and love, and developing the motif of bestial imagery, which ultimately represents his growing jealousy. Also from lines 444-460, Othello describes his newfound hatred towards Desdemona like “the Pontic Sea” with an “icy current and compulsive course”.
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