Marisol Roberts-Smith
Ms. Williams
English 10 Honors
12 October 2015
Othello: Star Crossed Lovers
Most people dream of finding their soul mate and getting their “happy ever after.” In Othello: Tragedy of the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare, there is no happy ever after for Othello and Desdemona. In fact, there is no happy beginning for them either. Othello and Desdemona’s love was doomed to fail from the beginning; their differences and personalities proved too much for the love built on shaky foundations and a cursed blessing.
Fate had Othello and Desdemona meet, but the two lovers were born too different to be compatible. Firstly, they are not fully accepted in seventeenth century Venice for their appearances, which is something that
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Othello enters the relationship completely convinced of the idea that this handkerchief is a solid and all-determining contract between husband and wife. Othello gives this handkerchief to Desdemona as his first gift to her, which is quite sudden for a man who believes this handkerchief determines the fate of his love life. In this time period, it was uncommon to get a divorce MAYBE, ENTER AP EURO. This again reiterates the falsity of Desdemona and Othello’s love. The speed at which Othello is willing to give the handkerchief to Desdemona foreshadows the fleetingness of the relationship. Othello relies on the magic of this handkerchief to support his relationship and determine its fate. He trusts that the magic of the handkerchief will tie he and his wife’s love together. Nothing should rely on magic, and if it does it is weak. SUPPORT. It is pure fate that Desdemona forgot her handkerchief. When Desdemona loses her handkerchief, “The resulting chain reaction leads to her brutal murder at the hands of her enraged husband” (Arogundade). The meaning and the magic of determining fate that the handkerchief possesses is all in Othello’s mind, making him vulnerable to anything odd that he perceives. This loss drives him mad and brings him terrible grief. The bond that the handkerchief provides for the two lovers is actually a curse picked out by fate. This handkerchief, meant to bring good fortune to their love, became a key factor in its