Shakespeare and Skepticism. Stanley Cavell’s Interpretation of Skepticism in Othello

Abstract

In the present article I attempt to provide an account of the skeptic-narcissist paradox, which Stanley Cavell finds in Shakespeare’s Othello. On one hand, Othello is a “perfect soul”, on the other, he is condemned to the existence of the Other (Desdemona), in whose gaze the skeptic-narcissist could recognize himself. In this paradoxical sense — from Othello’s own perspective — Desdemona threatens his narcissistic integrity, being to him so essential. This is exactly what is involved in the self-contradictory logic of Othello’s skeptical attitude, resulting in consequence in the final tragedy.