Euphemism In Othello

Euphemisms are required in the event that good taste demands the disgraceful and the uncomfortable to be mentioned merely in an indirect way which, in its subtleness, palliates the unease caused by the subject discussed. Those words and expressions that call for the use of euphemisms are ones that could easily be classified as tabus, impolite remarks, unmentionable things. The range of those easily touches upon every aspect of life from human relationships and the course of one’s livelihood to inanimate object themselves. Just as Kate Burridge said in her TED talk at TEDxSydney, it is all about cosmetics, impressions, making things seem better than they are, more attainable and less hurtful. While euphemisms are predominantly encouraged in …show more content…
Today some of the most prominent and well established instances of subjects covered by euphemisms are with regards to procreation, infidelity and death. Dating back to the XVI century “to make the beast with two backs” has been widely recognised due to its inclusion in Shakespeare’s “Othello”. A rather visual image that, while somewhat poetic in its sound, is not particularly easy on the mind. The most ordinary and platitudinous one of them all, which is that people have been “sleeping together” goes back in time to the thirteen hundreds (Kare Burridge, …show more content…
At the same time it is beyond fascinating to follow the evolution of euphemisms in contemporary society as new generations express their unique voice that is a direct reflection of the values, beliefs and convictions they have. In those there is intertwined an entire web of subjects considered impolite and offensive and there evolves an entire, new set of euphemisms that either replace the old ones or serve as evidence for human development and