Preview

The Handkerchief In Shakespeare's Othello

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
357 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Handkerchief In Shakespeare's Othello
Without delay, Emilia picks up the handkerchief, that her husband, Iago, has been asking for. Emilia asks Iago; “What will you give me now for the same handkerchief.” (3.3.314-15). Iago takes the handkerchief that he has been patiently waiting for. As he thinks to him; “I will in Cassio’s lodging lose this napkin and let him find it. Trifles light as air are to the jealous confirmations strong as proofs of holy writ. This may do something.” (3.3.330-34). Iago plans on leaving the handkerchief in Cassio’s house, so that Cassio can find it and return it. To a jealous man anything simple thing can be used as evidence. Iago finds Othello and keeps on filling his mind with jealous thoughts. As Iago tells Othello misleading lies, Othello demands “ocular proof” of the rumor. …show more content…
Would I were satisfied!” (3.3.398-400). Othello implies that if he were to come across these tools of death, he would commit murder or suicide. Othello asks Desdemona; “I have a salt and sorry rheum offends me. Lend me thy handkerchief.” (3.4.43). Desdemona responds; “I have it not about me.” (3.3.46). As this unfolds Bianca, Cassio’s wife, appears. She is angry with Cassio he has not been home and she demands an explanation; “O Cassio, whence came this? this is some token from a newer friend! To the felt absence now I feel a cause. IS ‘t come to this? Well, well.” (3.4.169-73). Bianca wants to know who’s handkerchief, the one she found at their house, who does it belong it? Perhaps a trophy from his mistress. Cassio assures her that, he does not know whose it is and that jealousy has taken over

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Desdemona drops her handkerchief that Othello gave her accidentally. Then Iago has his wife Emilia steal it. Iago then tells Othello that Desdemona gave it to Cassio We see the handkerchief before we hear about it. After Iago has planted suspicions in Othello's head, Desdemona calls Othello to dinner. Desdemona notices something is wrong with Othello, He is so choked up that she can barely hear him speak. When She asks him what's wrong, he makes the excuse that he has a headache. Then she takes out her handkerchief to wrap around his head. Othello says, "Your napkin is too little: / Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you" (3.3.287-288), and leaves the room, followed by Desdemona, "He puts the handkerchief from him, and it drops " (3.3.288).…

    • 218 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Handkerchief also goes through an almost pseudo-personification as it takes on a life of its own by acting as a sort of possessed object and rebelling against the audiences expectations by taking over the plot. When interrogating his wife about the missing handkerchief Othello explains its origin as a gift an “Egyptian to my mother give” so she could have the love of Othello’s father but this love would be lost if she ever lost it or gave it away (3.4.66). He also states that the woman who gave it to his mother was a “charmer” who “could almost read the thoughts of people” (3.4.66-69). This quote makes this woman seem like some sort of supernatural being or witch and the handkerchief a product of witchcraft. This is supported when…

    • 321 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Who Is Roderigo In Act 1

    • 1835 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Iago begins to exact his plan and implies to Othello that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair. Othello begins to believe him. Desdemona and Emilia enter. Othello says he has a pain and Desdemona gives him a handkerchief. He drops it and after he leaves with Desdemona, Emilia takes it for Iago.…

    • 1835 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This quote implies that proof of the handkerchief and Desdemona having an affair is not necessary, as the rumours are enough to feed Othello’s jealousy. A critical reception by Thomas Ryder, offers a warning to audiences in regards to ‘Othello’ and states that it “May be a lesson to husbands, that before Jealousy be tragical, the proofs may be Mathematical”, insisting that they should require more proof than what Othello takes before deciding to murder his wife. This makes Iago a significant character in the play as he portrays an appeal to logic, emotion and authority, intriguing the audience with facts, emotive language and the credibility he has…

    • 787 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He was a calm person, but when Iago starts telling him that Desdemona is being unfaithful to him and when he starts believing it, he got jealous. Iago did this on purpose to ruin Othello’ relationship. “She did deceive her father, marrying you; And she seemed to shake and fear your looks, she loved them most ” Iago said that Desdemona betray her father and will betray Othello too. At first Othello was having is doubt but then Iago proved to him that it is true but setting Cassio up. He made it seem like Cassio and Desdemona had an affair, putting the handkerchief to Cassio. “That’s a fault. The handkerchief” (3.4.57) Othello tried to confirm it with Desdemona but after witnessing Bianca and Cassio’s conversation he didn’t ask for any further…

    • 749 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Out of revenge, Iago successfully planted the seeds of jealousy into Othello’s mind when Iago had his wife, Emilia, steal the symbolic strawberry embroidered handkerchief. Othello’s mother got it from a egyptian charmer. She used it to help control .…

    • 480 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In Act III, Iago attempts to convince Othello that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him. Iago plants the seed that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair. Othello believes Iago but needs to have some type of physical evidence. Iago obtains Desdemona's handkerchief, which was a gift to her from Othello and plans to place it in Cassio's room. This will help convince Othello that his wife has been unfaithful and Othello will probably kill both Cassio and Desdemona.…

    • 271 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    He maintains a sense of ambiguity surrounding the subject, but it is sufficient to accentuate the jealousy inside Othello, which is the driving force of the rupture of their marriage. Iago’s plan to capitulate on Othello’s jealousy is made explicit when he says that the most insignificant thing presented to a jealous man, is as convincing as a holy sworn truth (“I will in Cassio’s lodging lose his napkin [a]nd let him find it. Trifles light as air [a]re to the jealous confirmations strong [a]s proofs of holy writ”). Furthermore, Othello expresses his distress at the fact that men can possess wives but yet they are unable to control their sexual desires. He subsequently articulates that he would rather be a toad than “keep a corner in the thing I love [f]or other’s uses.” This highlights the transformation from love to resentment and hatred that occurs within Othello regarding Desdemona. In addition, Othello contemplates what may have caused the betrayal of their love – whether it was as a result of: lack of conversation, his race or his…

    • 2657 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    She exhibits this loyalty particularly to her husband and to Desdemona. Although Emilia receives disrespect from her husband, she perpetually shows Iago loyalty throughout most of the play. When Emilia picks up the handkerchief that Desdemona drops, she hesitates to give it to Iago. However, she does give it to Iago because there is some loyalty that exists in her towards her husband. As Iago demands the handkerchief from Emilia, she questioningly states, “What will you do with ‘t, that you have been so earnest to have me filch it?” (III.iii.360-362). Emilia knows her husband is up to something and it is up to her to stop it. Although for most of the story Emilia is loyal to Iago, she also has loyalty to Desdemona. Emilia discovers that Iago uses the handkerchief to frame Cassio and destroy the relationship between Othello and Desdemona. When Emilia walks into the murder of Desdemona, she knows she has missed her opportunity to catch her husband in the act framing Desdemona. Her minimal amount of remaining respect for her husband is eliminated at this moment, and she tells everyone that it is Iago that has stolen the handkerchief in order to blame Desdemona. Emilia’s secret strength is evident. Emilia states, “O thou dull Moor, that handkerchief tho speak’st of I found by fortune, and did give my husband—For often, with a solemn earnestness (More than indeed belonged to such a trifle), He begged of me to steal’t”…

    • 1585 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Desdemona is Othello’s wife and the daughter of Brabantio. Desdemona secretly married Othello, against her father’s wishes. Throughout the play, Desdemona’s power is not clearly conveyed to the audience, but her presence has an effect. Roderigo is in love with her and her presence has an effect on him- he wants Othello out of the way, so to speak, so he can once again attempt to win Desdemona’s love. As the play unfolds, different aspects of Desdemona’s character are revealed, and blend into a unique personality. Throughout the play, Desdemona is loyal to her husband, but once again, her presence (with Cassio) leads Othello to believe that she is disloyal to him. Her handkerchief plays a pivotal role in the play- by Desdemona dropping it, Emilia gives it to Iago, who then stealthily gives it to Cassio. Othello sees Cassio with the handkerchief and believes Desdemona gave it to…

    • 888 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    “I am glad of this, for now I shall have reason to show the love and duty that I bear you with franker spirit. Therefore, as I am bound, receive it from me. I speak not yet of proof. Look to your wife, observe her well with Cassio. Wear your eyes thus, not jealous nor secure. I would not have your free and noble nature out of self-bounty be abused. Look to ’t. I know our country disposition well. In Venice they do let God see the pranks they dare not show their husbands. Their best conscience is not to leave ’t undone, but keep’t unknown” (Shakespeare, A3/S3/ P9) With this quote, Iago is trying to convince Othello that Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio. In the story, Othello is going to have a lot of emotion in the way of his reasoning…

    • 871 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Othello and O

    • 1126 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In Othello, the setting is in 16th century Cyprus during a war with the Turkish Empire. The language used in respectful and nice compared to “O”. Brabantio calls Othello to the summit and questions him what sorcery he has used to take his daughter Desdemona away from him. Desdemona denies the fact that Othello used any sorcery and says that there love is true and that she left her father for her husband and he left his family for her mother. In this play Desdemona is married to Othello. Iago’s reasons of jealousy are that Othello promoted Cassio to Lieutenant instead of him and that there’s a well-known rumor that Othello has slept with his where the truth hasn’t been brought to light. Nobody is aware of neither Iago’s nor Rodrigo’s intentions. Othello has epilepsy and Iago doesn’t help until Cassio walks in. Desdemona is slapped by Othello and no one can believe that the well-known respected general would do such a thing. Othello makes Iago his blood brother and Iago tells him to kill Desdemona and he will kill Cassio for him. But Iago Sends Rodrigo instead of doing it himself to kill Cassio but fails wring and Rodrigo gets injured and runs away than Iago comes and stabs Cassio in the leg then goes and kills Rodrigo. When Othello kills Desdemona, Emilia comes in and see’s that Desdemona is dead and Othello confessed to his crime so Emilia cries out murder where everyone came in including Iago where he starts to argue with Emilia and tells her to be quite but she doesn’t listen and then he…

    • 1126 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    My wayward husband hath a hundred timesWoo 'd me to steal it; but she so loves the token,For he conjured her she should ever keep it,That she reserves it evermore about herTo kiss and talk to. I 'll have the work ta 'en outAnd give 't Iago: what he will do with itHeaven knows, not I;I nothing but to please his fantasy." (3.3.290-299)To take his selfish plan further, Iago uses his wife Emilia 's loyalty to his own advantage. During the time Emilia kept the handkerchief in her hands, Iago 's speech towards Emilia was very different.…

    • 1390 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Othello Close Reading

    • 1199 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In the play, Othello, by William Shakespeare, a character named Iago, manipulates people to get what he wants. One character that is manipulated the most by Iago is Othello. The reason why is because Othello made Cassio his lieutenant and there were rumors that Othello has been sleeping around with his wife, Emilia. Iago involves Desdemona, Othello’s wife, in his plan by making it seem that Desdemona and Cassio are having a relationship. Iago convinces Othello about this relationship when Othello gets the ocular proof that he wanted. This evidence was that Cassio had the handkerchief that he had given to Desdemona as a first gift. Othello and Iago made a promise to each other that Othello will kill Desdemona and Iago will kill Cassio. Up to this point in the story Othello thought that Cassio is dead; now he will have to kill Desdemona. In Othello’s opening speech in Act 5 Scene 2, Othello feels the need to kill Desdemona but still feels doubt on whether he should do it as it is presented in his speech by literary meanings and devices.…

    • 1199 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Alternatively Desdemona is revealed to be the ideal woman, Cassio even admits“She is indeed perfection.” Othello often makes remarks on her beauty and her wit. Even when he thinks she has betrayed him, he cannot help himself from looking upon her fondly even stating that she is “so delicate with her needle: an admirable musician: O! she will sing the savageness out of a bear: of so high and plenteous wit and invention:—“ despite Desdemona’s perfection Othello lets himself be manipulated into thinking she is unfaithful to him, and he kills her. Emilia, while not as perfect as Desdemona appears to be an obedient wife to Iago. She even gives him Desdemona’s handkerchief without knowing the reason he wants it, when stealing the handkerchief she says “what he will do with it Heaven knows, not I; I nothing but to please his fantasy.” In the end of the play however, she chooses to honour Desdemona and she exposes her husband's treachery as opposed to supporting it. Iago kills her due to this one moment of disobedience. Through the killing of Emilia and Desdemona at the hands of their husbands and the fact that Bianca lives, Shakespeare reveals what he thinks of the relationships husbands have with their wives. He is exhibiting how women are never good enough for their husbands. Desdemona and Emilia are honest women, but in Desdemona’s case Othello believes she is having an affair and to him this is inexcusable. Emilia is killed because Iago sees it as a fit punishment for her disobedience and her lack of support of his dishonesty. Bianca on the other hand has no husband and thus she appears to follow no rules but her own and suffers no dire consequences because she has no one ruling over her. Shakespeare is showcasing the oppression that husbands had over their wives. On top of that Shakespeare is suggesting…

    • 1710 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays