Volume 6 - Issue 16 (2026-07-02)

The Concept of Fear and Anxiety in Shakespeare's Othello

Asst. Lect.: Haneen Ali Abdul-Ameer

The Republic of Iraq -ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research Islamic Imam Jaafar Al-Sadiq University in Najaf - Faculty of Education -Department of English Language

This paper includes the general interpretation of fear and anxiety from different scientists and psychologists including the pioneer of psychology area, Freud, who, with the confession of the majority of scholars, is among the best in this major. In addition, he is the one who discovered the “Psychoanalysis Approach”. Then, the research explores how Shakespeare epitomizes those feelings in the vast majority of his plays. Shakespeare has been founded as the greatest playwright for his ability to personify the real emotions of human beings. Moreover, he simulates our real world rather than intending to the fictional one. Furthermore, he is the writer of our play which is discussed in this paper “Othello”. It has been discovered that the consequences of the events within the play are mostly constructed on the sentimental aspect of treatments. The researcher takes different perspectives of different critics, poets, and scholars who have been taking place in interpreting the play. Therefore, the second section of this paper has a discussion that presents a profound illustration for the emotions of fear and anxiety, and it proves that fear is the source of all negative feelings like, phobia, paranoia, and anxiety. Indeed, the psychoanalysis theory takes considerable role in this research which is considered the main approach that the research constructed on. Finally, it discusses how Shakespeare deals with the antagonist of this play who is Othello. It figures that he is influenced by different factors within the play that led him to his downfall and committing suicide.