DID OTHELLO HAVE THE OTHELLO-SYNDROME

'The Othello Syndrome' refers to psychoses in which delusions of infid elity predominate. This article examines the concept of delusions, the nature of Othello's jealousy in Shakespeare's play, Othello's persona lity and the possible relationship between his personality and his epi lepsy, and compares Shakespeare's treatment of jealousy in Othello wit h his treatment of this theme in his other works. The article conclude s that Othello was deceived rather than deluded about Desdemona's alle ged infidelity and thus did not have 'the Othello Syndrome'. The term is a misnomer and should be abandoned.