Othello's epilepsy

[Lance]

Othello, a known epileptic, has an actual seizure on stage IV,1,41. Later, he strangles Desdamona V,2,40. As this happens she says, "...I fear you...when your eyes roll." Don't you think a modern-day lawyer would get Othello off. The lawyer would argue that his client murdered during a complex partial seizure and therefore is not competent and responsible at that time. See excerpts from my paper, "The Neuology in Shakespeare" at my website: LanceFogan.com

[Nicole D.]

I think you posted under the wrong book.This is King Lear.

[Jeni]

I looked at your website and I'm surprised anyone could function in any way other than seizing during a seizure. My niece can't do anything but stand still during her petit mal seizures.

If I recall correctly, he doesn't strangle Desdamona during a seizure, but later after he's recovered. How is this demonstrating incompetence and inability to be responsible for his actions?

Her actual line is "And yet I fear you; for you’re fatal then when your eyes roll so." I always took that to mean that watching his seizures made her think he was dying when he had one. (They are pretty awful to watch!) He wasn't seizing at this point, he was strangling her in a fit of jealous rage.

I think a lawyer wouldn't have much luck getting him acquitted of murder in this case.

[William]

No way could he get off if anyone left alive could hear Othello's "This is the cause" speech or his confession at the end, that is unless he had Jimmy Cochran in his corner.

[Gary]

Maybe he can't get off because of the seizures, but could get off on the grounds of dissociative identity disorder, by claiming that Othello thinks he is King Lear.

[Jeni]

My question is if the OP is indeed Dr. Lance Fogan? If so, why would you appear so illogical while posting a theory about Shakespeare's Othello and not use the right book? Why go against your own information on the (not well done) website that these types of seizures are incapacitating?