Sleep in Othello.
Some of our best descriptions of sleep disorders come from literature. While Shakespeare is well known for his references to insomnia and sleep walking, his works also demonstrate a keen awareness of many other sleep disorders. This paper examines sleep themes in Shakespeare's play Othello. The play indicates Shakespeare's astute eye for sleep deprivation, sexual parasomnias, and effects of stress and drugs on sleep.
Dimsdale
Joel E
JE
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0804, USA. jdimsdale@UCSD.edu
D004324:Drama; D006801:Humans; D008093:Literature, Modern; D008513:Medicine in Literature; D020447:Parasomnias / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology