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The Handkerchief In Othello Essay

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Shakespeare is prominent in his use of distinct symbols throughout all of his works. For example, in Othello, the distinct symbol used is the handkerchief. The handkerchief influenced, and effected multiple characters in the play. Which happen to be Othello, Desdemona, and also Iago.

To Othello, the handkerchief symbolizes a link to his past. The handkerchief was given to Othello by his mother, and he views the handkerchief as being magic and very ancient. Othello gave the handkerchief to Desdemona representing his love for her and their purity. In Act III scene 4, Othello asked Desdemona for the handkerchief, but Desdemona has lost place of it. In line 292 of Act III scene 4, Othello replies to Desdemona, “Entirely to her love, but if she lost it, or made gift of it, should her loathed and his spirits should hunt.” This …show more content…

Desdemona cherishes the handkerchief as a symbol of her and Othello’s love. In Act III scene 3, page 14, a character named Emilia states, “That she reserves it evermore about her. To kiss and talk to. (Line 304)” With Othello telling Desdemona how magical the handkerchief is, makes her very superstitious and scared because she doesn’t want anything to happen between her and Othello.

The importance of the handkerchief with Iago is quite different. Iago used the handkerchief as a tool of destruction. He wanted to prove Desdemona’s unfaithfulness to Othello. Iago begged his wife Emilia to steal the handkerchief from Desdemona, and in Act III, scene 4, she finally did it. Emilia stated, “I have a thing for you. What handkerchief? Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona, that which so often you did bid me steal (lines 310-315).” With this quote, it shows the readers how evil Iago is. It also shows that with no remorse, he can use a simple thing to completely destroy

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Iago then has Emilia, his wife, get Othello’s mother’s handkerchief and plants in Cassio’s room, then warns Othello to watch out for Cassio and Desdemona. Iago then sent Cassio to ask Desdemona and for his job back. Othello then suspects his wife of cheating. When she comes to him soon later vouching for him to give Cassio his job

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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

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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.

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During her moment of truth, Emilia accepts punishment for her naivete towards her husband 's evil plot and redeems her damaged character. Distraught from Desdemona 's death, Emilia asks Iago if he really has done what she fears, she declares “Disprove this villain if thou be’st a man” On the surface, Emilia is telling Iago that he is to tell Othello what he did if he “man” enough to publicly acknowledge his true evil, as much of his treachery is sneaky and underhanded. Additionally, asking Iago if he “be’st a man” also insinuates that Iago is not a man, but rather a malicious demon that is not human. Later in the scene, Iago tells Emilia to go home and she replies with “T’is proper I obey him, but not now Perchance, Iago, I will never go home” To be “proper” is to be suitable or appropriate. Emilia is expected to follow all of her husband 's commands yet when Emilia says that she will never go home she means that she will never take orders from her husband again now that she knows the atrocities he committed.

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Iago uses very clever methods of persuasion and manipulation aimed to use Othello’s hamartia against him, pointing out that “ “She (Desdemona) did deceive her father, marrying you,” so much so that Brabantio “thought ’twas witchcraft”. Through this, Iago is subtly raising the issues of Othello’s cultural differences with Desdemona; a root cause behind Othello’s insecurities with his wife – along with inadequacy due to race, degree of sophistication and age. As Iago prompts Othello to think the worst, his utterances are short and uneasy, revealing the beginning to his downfall, whilst Iago’s dialogue is at length highlighting his growing power of

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Iago’s intentions unveil themselves not only through actions, but through his engagement with the audience. “Iago’s self-understanding is well-express when he explains to viewers his plan to put a plague in Othello’s ear that will cause him to misinterpret Desdemona’s advocacy to Cassio.” (The Art) In order to commence suspicion within Othello, Iago utilizes the elopement of Othello and Desdemona. “Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see.

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He ends up uses all the money Rodrigo gave him, for himself. Not only that, but Iago ends up killing Roderigo, he says, “if Roderigo lives, he’ll expect me to give back all the gold and jewels I swindled him out of as gifts to Desdemona, that must not happen.” Iago stabs Roderigo, and puts all the charges on him. Emilia is Iago’s wife as well as Desdemona’s maid, he lacks attention and sympathy towards her. It is very obvious that he does not care about her.

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Unfortunately for Cassio, it was all a part of Iago 's plan, he then planted the handkerchief that Othello gave Desdemona as a symbol of love, in Cassio 's room. He told Othello of the connection between Cassio and Desdemona, and as she kept bringing his name up to reinstate him, it became more evident to Othello. Iago gradually drove Othello to the edge, he convinced him of the affair between the two and so he felt the need to kill her. Afterwards Othello found out that she didn 't cheat on him, and so he killed himself. The ultimate payback, driven by

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did I today/ See Cassio wipe his beard with.” (3.3 445-447) Iago falsely accuses Cassio by telling Othello that Cassio was using Desdemona’s handkerchief, the one that Othello gave to her as a first gift. In the article, Navorro (2013) says, “...the narcissist often chooses a profession, guild, organization, occupation, or a job where he or she can manipulate others or the system like a puppeteer.” Iago pretends to be under Othello, meaning he shows honesty and royalty to Othello, and when he finally gains Othello’s trust, he starts to manipulate Othello’s thoughts and beliefs.

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At the start of the play, Othello, uses his word to win Desdemona over by the stories that he is telling her father. Othello and Desdemona also define their love

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Although, Iago creates this immoral images of women to feed his revenge, while doing it by this mean he reveals his true perception of women. Iago perceives his wife as a promiscuous woman and without having any facts or proof convinces himself and takes as a fact the rumor that Emilia had an affair with Othello (1.3.324-27). Iago acknowledges his wife as an easy woman who has betrayed him more than once, murmuring: “For I fear Cassio with my

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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

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Iago is trying to ruin Othello 's marriage by sending Barbantio to Othello and expressing his dislike for his secret marriage, “Damned as thou art, thou hast enchanted her” (I. II. 82). Brabantio is in such shock that he believes Othello used magic to get Desdemona to marry him. Iago’s manipulation of Barbantio has ruined the relationship between a father and a daughter and any relationship that could happen between Othello and Barbantio. He achieves his goal of creating a problem between this family and making Othello emotionally

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Iago responds that he has heard Cassio fantasize about Desdemona in his sleep and that he has seen Cassio wipe his mouth with Desdemona's handkerchief. Othello rewards Iago by promoting him to the status of lieutenant and orders him to kill Cassio within three days. Othello then confronts Desdemona in her room and demands the handkerchief. Desdemona has been searching for it and confesses she cannot find it. Othello leaves.

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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

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