摘要

   文学作品中意象具有渲染气氛和表达感情，刻画人物形象，衬托戏剧主题的功能。莎士比亚的四大悲剧之一的《奥赛罗》中，恶魔形象贯穿全剧的一组意象群，它对深化依阿哥这个人物形象具有重要的作用。与以往的评论主要关注剧中意象的静态内容不同，本文在充分挖掘剧中恶魔意象的动态性的基础上详细论述了这一特征在剧中所起的作用。具体地说，恶魔意象在剧中起到推动戏剧动作的发展，引起并加剧戏剧冲突达到高潮的作用。它的作用模式主要表现在依阿哥作为恶魔意象的主体使用恶魔意象作用于布罗班修，卡西欧和奥赛罗，并引起他们的心理变化以及外部行为的变化，这种作用模式推动整个戏剧动作的发展。本文的意义在于阐述意象在戏剧发展中所起的推动作用给其他对这个课题同样感兴趣的提供参考。

关键词：奥赛罗；恶魔意象；人物特性
 
Abstract

  In literary works, images contribute to building up of atmosphere, expressing feelings, depicting characters and highlighting the theme. In Othello, one of Shakespeare’s four representative tragedies, the diabolic image is a set of images permeating through all the play. Previous researches focus their attention on the symbolic meaning and static contents of image, whereas the present research attempts to explore how the diabolic image as a dynamic force performs the function of driving forward the movement of dramatic action of the play. The diabolic image functions in a specific mode that Lago uses the diabolic image to affect Barabantio, Cassio and Othello, to arouse their psychological action and even cause them to take physical action, thus driving forward the dramatic action towards its climax. The present study aims to illustrate the driving function of image in the play and provide reference for the people with the same interest.

Key words: Othello；diabolic image；characterization
 
1 Introduction
William Shakespeare’s Othello tells a story of the tragic downfall of a man through jealousy and mistrust. And this paper is trying to analyze the term “Diabolic Image” in Othello. To pave the way for detailed analysis, a brief introduction to the author and the play is necessary and beneficial.

1.1 About the author
William Shakespeare was born on April 26, 1564; he is the one of the most famous talent person who has become a landmark in the history of the British literature, even the history of the world literature. Meanwhile William Shakespeare’s works are great treasures in the history of world culture, During the 22 years of his literary life, his imagination, and his richness of language and deep understanding of human nature have made him universally known and loved. His influence on English literature and  the writers of other countries is immense.