The Symbolism Of The Handkerchief In Othello

That is until one day when Desdemona drops the handkerchief on the floor and Emilia retrieves it. She then gives the handkerchief to her husband, unintentionally handing over the most crucial piece of evidence Othello needs as confirmation to his wife’s unfaithfulness. When learning Desdemona does not have the handkerchief Othello exclaims to Iago, “By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it./Thou saidst—Oh, it comes o'er my memory,/As doth the raven o'er the infectious house,/Boding to all—he had my handkerchief” (Shakespeare

With regards to plot, the handkerchief provides the sole ocular proof of Desdemona's unfaithfulnes, which infact triggers Othello's madness. The fact that Othello insists on gathering proof suggests that he is somewhat hopeful, 'I'll have some proof.' It is worth noticing Desdemona's mistake in Act 3 Scene 4 when Othello demands to see the handkerchief, as she lies and says, 'It is not lost'. This further convinces Othello of her infidelity.

She does not understand why Othello is drifting away from her and why he is acting cold and distant, and Desdemona believes Iago when he says that Othello is tense because of work. She loses the handkerchief that Othello gifts her, which has great meaning to it. He was given that by his mother, who was given that by an Egyptian sorceress. He believed that as long has Desdemona had it, she would love him. Therefore, once she misplaced it, Othello began to suspect her even more.

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.

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 handkerchief symbolizes the start of a new generation, a token of their union and

The handkerchief symbolizes different things to different characters. Since the handkerchief was the first gift Desdemona received from Othello, she keeps it as a symbol of Othello’s love but she then loses it. This is symbolic because it represents Desdemona and Othello’s bond and marriage. Because it is lost their marriage is

When receiving something such as an object, instrument, tool, etc, there can be much sediment behind it or the value it had in an individual’s life. In the play “Othello”, a handkerchief was an important symbol, that was given to “Othello” by his mother that represented their heritage (Christian and Venetian Citizen). He kept this handkerchief after her death. He met Desdemona and instantly fell in love with her. Which later in the play, she was given the handkerchief for safekeeping and a representation that if she were ever to lose the handkerchief it would mean she would’ve given her body away,, and as well to express the love and trust he had for her.

He tells her that the handkerchief had been given to him by his mother who had gotten the handkerchief from an Egyptian witch lady. The Egyptian witch lady told Othello’s mom that the handkerchief had a curse, and that curse was that as long as she had that handkerchief her husband would love her and if she lost it, he would leave her for other women. '’ 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 should hold her loathed and his spirits should hunt’’ This reference highlights how Othello told Desdemona that if Othello mom keep the handkerchief her husband would find her admirable and would love her and if she lost it he would lose interest and move on. In conclusion, the handkerchief means a lot to Othello and that what he explains that to

Destruction caused by a single piece of cloth seems like a very farfetched idea. In William Shakespeare’s play Othello, he shows how a single handkerchief can cause mass devastation, and he shows how it can ruin many lives. The background of the handkerchief is what makes the handkerchief so important to Othello. The handkerchief was a family heirloom, and was handed down to him by his mother. The handkerchief is passed around to majority of the characters, and those who came in contact with it changed the plot of the play; however, the men played a bigger role with the handkerchief than the women due to Iago. Iago is the main source of how the handkerchief was passed around to different characters because of his desire to manipulate others, and his desire for revenge. The handkerchief represent love and chastity, but also manipulation and infidelity. The handkerchief first represented Othello’s love for Desdemona, but Iago uses the handkerchief to as the form of “ocular proof” for Othello; therefore, it makes Othello believe Desdemona is unfaithful to him. A small handkerchief is what leads to many deaths because it creates jealously, but the jealously was caused by manipulation. In today’s society, it is unrealistic that a small cloth could lead to so much death, but it is possible that something such as a text could cause raging jealously. The handkerchief serves as the main symbol in the play because it takes on a role of its own, and it

In “Othello,” the handkerchief is a symbol of Othello and Desdemona’s relationship, and, as the play progresses, it turns into the evidence to Cassio and Desdemona’s alleged affair. To begin with, Iago convinces his wife, Emilia, to steal the handkerchief because he needs something to convince Othello of Desdemona’s betrayal. Secondly, Othello goes to make sure that Desdemona really has given away the handkerchief that he had given her. Lastly, Cassio gives Bianca the handkerchief, and she believes it to be a token from another woman. So, it is these events that together that make the handkerchief be the cause of so much trouble, because each one only further convinces Othello that Iago is right.

(3.4.50-63) When her mother was dying, she passed on the handkerchief to Othello and told him to give it to his loved one. Othello is a fool to believe that the handkerchief has magic in its webs and that if Desdemona loses the handkerchief or gives it to someone, they would lose their love as well. He even warns Desdemona about this and how it would be a great loss for them.

They were prevalent throughout Elizabethan era and are prominent in many of Shakespeare’s works. In Othello, the handkerchief is a central part of the play, representative of Othello himself and his relationship with Desdemona. Ultimately, however, it becomes his own downfall and undoing. The meaning

Iago is the manipulative villain in the play and cause Othello to be jealous. “I hate the Moor, And it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets he has done my office. I know not if’t be true, But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, will do as if for surety” (1.3 430-433). Iago reveals his motivation to destroy Othello as there’s a rumor that Othello is sleeping with his wife, Emilia. This rumor caused only more hatred towards Othello. Later on, Iago had malicious plan which involved to create an illusion of Desdemona and Cassio sleeping with one another. Also, he used the handkerchief as a way to show affair of Desdemona and Cassio’s relationship. “Trifles light as air. Are to the jealous confirmations strong. As proofs of holy writ. This may do something” (3.3.370-372).Handkerchief symbolizes the love of Desdemona and Othello. It shows how much they care for one another. Iago realizes the significance of the handkerchief and takes advantage of it. Iago saying that the handkerchief is in Cassio’s possession shows that Desdemona is faithless. Losing the handkerchief was the push that drove Othello to become a violent and vengeful

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.