ipl-logo

Handkerchief In Othello

624 Words3 Pages

In the story of Othello, the handkerchief is of vital importance to the plot. This object was a major piece in the game that Iago played by manipulating Othello and convincing the audience of Desdemona's infidelity. Furthermore, this symbol brings to light unto Iago, Desdemona, Othello and the character of Emilia, and is such of vital importance to the overall characterization. This handkerchief has the symbolic meaning that reveals Othellos social background, his treatment of his wife, and the remaining characters feelings toward her husband.
Fascinatingly, othello consists of two separate stories of how he acquired the handkerchief. He claims in one account that as a sign of love, his father had giften the handkerchief to his mother as a …show more content…

This heroic general admired by many allowed corruption in the form of jealousy to cloud his thoughts and allowed it to consume him. This hatred of Desdemona and Cassio for their accused actions drives the once strong man to insanity. Slowly his men turn on him, ever so slowly realising the unstable nature of his being. “O Spartan dog,
More fell than anguish, hunger, or the sea, Look on the tragic loading of this bed. This is thy work.—The object poisons sight. Let it be hid.—Gratiano, keep the house, And seize upon the fortunes of the Moor, For they succeed on you. To Cassio. To you, lord governor (shakespeare 425).” This quote depicts the betrayal of his men and his forceful removal of his authority. Furthermore, in the end of Othello's life, his men and his only love has left him in person and in death so he takes his own life. Throughout Othello, the handkerchief is of vital importance to the progression of the plot. This handkerchief has the symbolic meaning showing othellos social background, his treatment of his wife, and the opinion that the remaining characters feel toward othello. Through the consummation of his marriage to the destruction of their love, the cloth sewn with strawberries laid the groundwork for it all. This token functions as a symbol for othello's mysterious past which helps the audience further understand this love story that ended

Show More
Related

Theme Of Ethos Pathos And Logos In Othello

134 Words | 1 Pages

The sympathy felt for a character often remains through character revelation. In spite of the change in personality and morals the first impression of the character is not forgotten. Othello who commits violent acts throughout the play ends his life with honour, reminding us he was originally introduced as a respected man of high position. A person can be manipulated by others to act outside of their character, and their emotions can blind them from making good decisions. In the end a person’s true character is reflected upon the way they react to the results of their wrong doing.

Read More

Comparing Othello And F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great G

1055 Words | 5 Pages

Its manipulation by Iago becomes more painful since the “magic” discussed emphasizes the symbolic and profound emotional weight of the handkerchief. Othello’s unfulfilled yearning for assurance and control over his life and marriage is symbolized by the handkerchief, which Iago

Read More

Jealousy And The Matrix In Shakespeare's Othello And Matrix

857 Words | 4 Pages

And makst me call what I intend to do a murder, which I thought a sacrifice I saw the handkerchief” (Othello IV. ii. 62-66). Othello is angry at losing desdemona, he found out that her handkerchief was were it wasn’t suppose to be at.

Read More

Diary Entry From Shakespeare's Othello

866 Words | 4 Pages

In shock, I stated Cassio moaning in his sleep for Desdemona, and to my surprise the moor believed every word. I have yet to show him evidence of the dastardly act, but yet he believes me. Hopefully, my victory shall be inscribed in my future entry. 30th December

Read More

Dom Casmurro And Machado In Shakespeare's Othello

1502 Words | 7 Pages

he repeats guilty in order to not only emphasise the idea but also to himself. Bento envisions his life fitting exactly into the play, Jose Dias is Iago, Capitu is Desdemona and he is Othello. Modifying his life to fit the play shows to what extent his imagination runs his life, he is so engulfed in mirroring his life that he even went as far as to add the detail that Desdemona, Capitu is not innocent and therefore needs to die. Machado tries to make the connection between the handkerchief and Capitu’s eyes as they both serve as the device to reveal the theme of infidelity; “a handkerchief was enough to kindle the jealousy of Othello.” Capitu’s “undertow” eyes where the reason as to why Bento became increasingly jealous.

Read More

Roderigo As He Appears In Act 1 Essay

676 Words | 3 Pages

In act 4, the handkerchief becomes the solid proof that makes Othello believe his wife was in deed having an affair with Cassio. At the beginning of the story, Othello gave it to Desmodena to symbolize their relationship. At some point in act 3, it drops as Desmodena tries to wipe his angry husband with it. Emila picks it and Lago plants it in Cassio’s room who then gives it to Bianca. Bianca returns it to Cassio thinking that it belonged to his other mistress and it is between this conversations that Othello got convinced that Desmodena was cheating on him.

Read More

Lee Spinks Oedipus: The Purpose Of Tragedy

1048 Words | 5 Pages

First, by making up that Othello was seducing Barbantino's daughter, Desdemona, and then, throughout the play by trying to brainwash Othello and make him believe that his wife was being unfaithful to him. And Othello being the kind of person that needs to be certain about everything that goes on around him, wanted to find out for sure if his spouse was cheating on him as Iago has told him; so, Iago took advantage of this and planted Desdemona's handkerchief on Cassio, using it as the ocular proof Othello was asking for. Throughout this play we see what nowadays are called, trust issues - even though we knoe that the person we are in a relationship with is being faithful to us, we want to just make sure, looking for and bringing up situations that are neither relevant nor necessary. Othello wanted to know what Iago, Desdemona and Cassio were thinking in order to find out if the rumors were true, but the truth is that there is no way that we can have access to other people's thoughts, we have to choose to trust them. Our awareness to other people's actions is not based on knowledge but on trust because we will never know it all and there is always the possibility that what people show is not really who they are or what they feel.

Read More

Moor's Dichotomy In Othello

788 Words | 4 Pages

“For mine own part, no offence to the general nor any man of quality, I hope to be saved. ”This quote enhances how Cassio was optimistic that he wasn’t going to lose his lieutenant title after he lost his mind arguing with fellow peers. Cassio’s situation is similarly to the situation that optimistic Americans uphold whenever they’re facing hardships in their life. In Moors in Elizabethan England Othello is portrayed as a “villainous character” based on the background knowledge citizens of England possessed about the Moors. This negative dichotomy affected Othello when Desdemona and him yearned to get married

Read More

Similarities Between Othello And The Moor Of Venice

1228 Words | 5 Pages

For instance, Shakespeare holds that war and military might no longer maintain the esteem of their former glory, but rather exist subject to the control of media and information. As various messengers contradict in reporting “The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes” (I.iii.14) and “Their purpose toward Cyprus” (I.iii.39), the Venetian military lacks the ability to ability to act without mediated information, and the work thus diverts itself from the grand and stately matter of the war. Because “the desperate tempest hath so bang’d the Turks that their designment halts” (II.i.21–22), Othello acts as a tragedy not of stately, but of personal affairs, which in turn emphasizes the spectacular nature of scandal and diverts the viewer from the political and economic conditions and limits such a spectator’s influence by means of disinterest. Additionally, Iago takes initial, and still minor, grievance at Othello’s promotion of “a great arithmetician” (I.i.19) to the lieutenancy, and his actions use misinformation to subvert the chain of command, overthrowing both the General and his second-in-command, warning that the media controls military and state, as control of the means of communication in turn

Read More

Argumentative Essay On Othello

943 Words | 4 Pages

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

Read More

Why Is Trust Important In Othello

1119 Words | 5 Pages

On page 149 Iago says “She may be honest yet. Tell me but this: Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief spotted with strawberries in your wifes hand.” from this we can see that Iago is using something very significant to Othello and Desdemonas relationship to make Othello feel even worse about the situation and not want to know anything worse than her not having the handkerchief. According to the article “Why you hide from the truth—and how to stop it” “Willfully avoiding important information is a phenomenon researchers call ‘behavior information avoidance or strategic ignorance’". Othello does this because also according to this article “ facts that may make us feel bad, or information that challenges our assumptions about ourselves.”

Read More

How Othello's Character Changes

844 Words | 4 Pages

Iago plants the handkerchief in Cassio’s lodging, and has a conversation with Othello about Cassio, saying: IAGO Nay, but be wise: yet we see nothing done; She may be honest yet. Tell me but this, Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief Spotted with strawberries in your wife 's hand? OTHELLO I gave her such a one; 'twas my first gift. IAGO I know not that; but such a handkerchief-- I am sure it was your wife 's--did I to-day

Read More

Jealousy In William Shakespeare's Othello

665 Words | 3 Pages

Jealousy does not merely destroy the bonds of love, but also alters the lives of the people involved. In The Tragedy of Othello by William Shakespeare, Othello’s entire life is ripped apart by the detrimental lies fed to him by Iago involving his wife Desdemona. William Shakespeare uses imagery, as well as personification to paint a vivid image in the reader’s mind of how jealousy can completely shatter someone’s life In The Tragedy of Othello.

Read More

Iago And Richard III Analysis

1826 Words | 8 Pages

Another obvious example of the handkerchief is Iago’s major tool in deceiving Othello, which symbolic meaning is largely subverted. Boose further explains this, writing that Iago makes use of the token of love to create falsity as he first puts the object in an erotic context and transforms the motif of marital consummation into an evidence of adultery

Read More

Desdemona's Treachery In Othello

181 Words | 1 Pages

The handkerchief is not only important due to what it symbolizes but also it Is what convinces Othello of Desdemona’s treachery. It can be seen how it was the tipping point for Othello

Read More

More about Handkerchief In Othello

Related Topics

Open Document