Abol, Themes And Symbols In William Shakespeare's Othello

Fear of cuckoldry is widely known theme in medieval and Renaissance English literature. Fear of cuckoldry was also a widespread fear in English society during those eras. Men often treated their wives as possessions. Once men and women married, divorce was almost impossible, especially since it was almost impossible to prove that one had been cuckolded. If one were cuckolded and one’s wife had another man’s child, one might spend decades taking care of that child and passing on one’s money and belongings to that child without ever knowing that one had been deceived. Unmarried women are seen as their fathers ' property and the play 's two marriages are marked by jealousy and cruelty. Most

In Othello every character has their own personalities that makes them the person they are. In Othello there are characters that show true grit, a fixed mindset, and a growth mindset. Each characters are different which makes the book even more interesting. True grit means to endure and push through to do something better no matter what it takes. An example of grit is studying for a long period of time for a test and enduring the amount of work that must be completed. The definition of mindset is the established set of attitude held by someone. There are two other types of mindset as well. There is growth mindset and fixed mindset. Growth mindset is when the person isn 't

However strong Othello's and Desdemona's marriage seems, it begins to deteriorate as a result of Othello's self-pride. At first, Iago convinces Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful. Iago suggests to Othello that Desdemona slept with Cassio. Iago uses a handkerchief given by Othello to Desdemona that he got Emilia to get for him as his proof against

Iago sees the handkerchief as a way of finally being able to get to Othello. Iago feels that the handkerchief is a symbol of Desdemona’s faith to Othello. By obtaining this symbol of her faith, he is able to deploy his plan of revenge against Othello. Othello discovers that the handkerchief is missing and becomes very angry with Desdemona. When Desdemona looses her handkerchief, Othello believes she is unfaithful. Othello sees Cassio with the handkerchief and accepts it as confirmation of Desdemona's infidelity.

She tells him a flat out lie, but again, with good intentions. Desdemona loves Othello and did not want him to get angry. She thought she had just misplaced the handkerchief, and that she would soon find it, but if she told Othello she had lost it, he would become furious.

In the article “Handkerchief in Othello” it states, “Iago also knows that, for Othello, the handkerchief symbolizes Desdemona's fidelity. When it shows up in Cassio's possession, Othello is convinced that Desdemona is unfaithful”(Shmoop). The handkerchief has powers over Othello, he has set his mind on the handkerchief representing Desdemona's love, trust, and fidelity, while he uses no other indicators and relies solely on his beliefs of the handkerchief. The scholar Harry Berger Jr also mentions the handkerchief as a powerful object for Othello. He says that for Othello, it is used to subdue Desdemona's sexuality, so she would not have power over him, but losing it means losing his power over Desdemona , and is now unable to control her.

Despite her loyalty to Desdemona, Emilia chooses to impress her husband over her mistress not knowing Iago’s master plan. Emilia uses hyperbole to emphasize the amount of times her husband has asked her for this very symbolic handkerchief. Not expecting much harm, she gives the precious handkerchief to Iago who then helps Othello confirm that Desdemona is unfaithful. The lady in waiting takes into consideration the meaning and value of the handkerchief and how “wayward” her husband is but she still trusts Iago. Emilia finally finds out that Iago is the evil mastermind to the death of Desdemona when she finds out her husband framed Cassio and Desdemona’s relationship. Emilia explains to Othello the truth about the handkerchief “ that handkerchief thou speak’st of I found by fortune and did give my husband… he begged of me to steal’t ”(5.2.222-226). Emilia realizes her blindness to Iago's desperate want of the handkerchief costing her mistress's’ life. After Emilia reveals the truth to everyone, Iago stabs his wife and flees. Emilia dies an innocent death due to her blindness to her husband's true nature as she was deceived and manipulated in Iago's plan of revenge.

The handkerchief missing only stirs the pot for upcoming chaos. According to the magical powers of the handkerchief, to lose it, Othello claims is to lose his love for her. Upon discovering it to be suddenly misplaced, this only continues to benefit Iago, and the revenge he sets to pursue. With the loss of the handkerchief, it only adds more strain onto the marriage of Desdemona and Othello. Throughout the story, the handkerchief is observed to be Iago’s secret weapon for his revenge. With it, Iago is able to double-cross the people that seem to get in his way of his plan (Ardolino 1). However, most is achieved with some unintended help. Many of his set intentions are accomplished with the aid of his charm and, with the help of his wife, Emilia. This is observed when he requests for her to retrieve the handkerchief for him. Although, she isn’t seems quite hesitant of what he asks, considering Desdemona is a close friend, she obeys, despite knowing what she’s really doing for Iago. Emilia only seems to view the handkerchief as a way to satisfy her husband in the hopes of him desiring her. By this, Iago is exposed to only show appreciation and affection towards her if she has anything to provide for him.

Her silence causes Othello to become in rage with his wife this leads us to believe that Emilia is a liar. Although Emilia doesn’t intentionally lie to Desdemona she fails to tell her that she took the handkerchief as a token to win praise from Iago. This causes conflict between Desdemona and Othello just as it is the reason for Othello’s jealousy.

Coupled with Emilia’s obedience to Iago, his ploy can finally convince Othello of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness. Emilia does not agree with her husband, Iago very much, but she does obey him when she has the opportunity to do so. However, Emilia picks up Desdemona’s handkerchief, with no thought, only that it will please her husband, “what he will do with it /heaven knows, not I; /I nothing but please his fantasy,” (OTH.III.III.297-289). Subsequently, this handkerchief may not have much meaning to Emilia at this moment, but once she finally discovers the truth about her husband, she immediately accuses her husband of being a villain, and dies by his hands. Correspondingly, Emilia is also loyal to her husband, to such an extent as to lie to Desdemona about where her handkerchief has gone. As Desdemona worryingly searches for her handkerchief, Emilia denies knowing where she could have lost it, and suggests a different reason for Othello’s uneasiness, “I know no madam… /Is he not jealous?” (OTH.III.IV.14, 20). Emilia knows where the handkerchief has gone, but remains silent because her husband, Iago has told her to. As a result of Emilia’s loyalty Iago does not need to worry about others discovering where Othello’s handkerchief

Shakespeare’s Othello portrays a process through which pure evil has an effect on love and morality. The character of Iago twists Othello into killing his wife, and eventually himself, through manipulating Othello’s trust and loyalty. Iago uses the handkerchief as a symbol through which Othello is convinced of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness. This handkerchief plays many roles throughout Othello. Because of the importance placed upon this object, the driving force of the play becomes centered on the particular qualities of this handkerchief. In its most important aspect, the handkerchief becomes associated with a kind of web set by Iago, in order to ensnare both Othello and Desdemona.

The second event to this process of tragedy is when Iago uses the handkerchief that he had his wife take to create “proof” that Desdemona was cheating on Othello with Cassio. Already ridden with jealousy, Othello demands Iago that he must have “ocular proof” to Desdemona's “deception.” In line with his devilish plan, Iago tells Othello that, “but such a handkerchief—I am sure it was your wife's—did I today see Cassio wipe his beard with” (Shakespeare 1330), knowing full well that the handkerchief was a precious symbol of love between the moor and Desdemona, although he pretended to be oblivious. His plan once again works its “poison” upon Othello as the moor says, “now do I see

Othello is acting different, and therefore Desdemona tells Emilia she is afraid that Othello will make up a whole story in his head because he is jealous. Because Emilia is Iago’s wife, she knows more about Iago than the other characters do. Emilia knows that Iago lies, but she is unsuspecting that Iago will use this handkerchief for evil. Iago manipulated Emilia and now Iago has the ocular proof he needs to manipulate Othello. Iago sways Othello with his language, and Othello mistakenly confesses his weaknesses to Iago: “Villian, be sure thou prove my love whore, be sure of it. Give me the ocular proof.” (3.3.359-61) Objects, such as the handkerchief enhance peoples’ everyday life personally and spiritually beyond their utilitarian functions. Iago realizes he can manipulate Othello by using the handkerchief since it should be in Desdemona’s possession at all times. Iago can use the proof of the handkerchief to manipulate Othello’s psychological state and lead him to his destruction. In Act III Scene III, Iago manipulates Othello by pretending he does not know that Othello gave Desdemona a handkerchief as a gift and asks Othello:

Iago is obsessed with plants. His speeches use a lot of vegetable metaphors and conceits. Iago thinks of himself as the gardener both of himself and of others and that the characters are

Twould make her amiable and subdue my father Entirely to her love, but if she lost it Or made gift of it, my father's eye” ( Act 3 Scene 4 Line 58-61). Othello has believed that with the handkerchief not in Desdemona hands that Desdemona does not love him anymore. By giving it to Cassio it means that Desdemona loves Cassio. Othello has trusted Iago because he is a nice person toward him or he acted like a nice person to Othello, or how Iago call him behind his back a Moor. To an Othello point of view Iago is his friends, but to Iago’s point of view Othello is his enemy the guy that slept with his wife Emilia and the guy who has not hired him to be a lieutenant.