Preview

Examples Of Desdemona's Handkerchief In Othello

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
218 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Examples Of Desdemona's Handkerchief In Othello
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).

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • 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

    Iago comes up with a plot to make Othello think that Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio, he does this by getting his wife Emillia to steal Desdemona’s special handkerchief, which Othello gave to her as a gift, and he places it in Cassio’s room to try and frame them. When Othello finds out about Desdemona’s apparent betrayal and does not know what to do, he goes from being a kind loving man at the start to an angry upset man who ends up killing his wife. After he kills Desdemona he realises he shouldn’t have done it as she was set up, this causes him to take his own life because he can’t live knowing that he killed an innocent lady. Shakespeare uses the technique of soliloquies to show the audience/reader of the inner journey that Othello goes…

    • 1254 Words
    • 6 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

    In Act IV, it focuses on lack of communication. Instead of communicating, Othello still listens to Iago's lies about Desdemona being unfaithful. Iago remarks that if he ever gave his wife a handkerchief, it would be hers, not anyone else's, “Why then ‘tis hers, my lord, and being hers, She may, I think, bestow’t on any man.” ( IV. i. 15-16 ) Instead of checking…

    • 600 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Just after Othello killed Desdemona, Iago’s wife Emilia came in to explain about the attack on Casio that involves Roderigo as well as Iago. While Emilia explains she sees Desdemona. She questions Othello about what has happened. Othello tells Amelia that her husband helped him to recognize what a good liar Desdemona was and exposed her cheating. Amelia exposes that her husband Iago had Desdemona’s handkerchief and that her husband lied to him (Othello) about the handkerchief and that Desdemona was a good wife to him and did not cheat on him. The plot twists and turns demonstrated the drama. At the climax of the drama when Othello has smothered Desdemona with a pillow and she awakens for a moment to declare that she killed herself. Her death is quite dramatic and fits yet another characteristic of tragic…

    • 3133 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Better 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
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Othello, the Moor is accused for alluring Desdemona with the help of drugs and black magic. The lovers are cited to the Viennese senate. However stands up and tells her father that she totally loves his husband not because he wants to respect his father but because her duty is divided. While saying this Desdemona is standing in front of his father and denying his will in…

    • 68 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory 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
  • Good Essays

    Theme Of Love In Othello

    • 258 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Desdemona holds the handkerchief in utterly different regards than Othello. Seemingly she holds it dearly as it was the first token of love given to her by Othello. Nevertheless, in the scene when she offers it to him for his headache she drops it and does not notice its disappearance for a while. It is not until act three scene four “where should I lose the handkerchief, Emilia?” that she becomes away aware of her negligence with it (3.4.21). Historically this token of love was a common gesture during Elizabethan England that was traded amongst couples. Apparently “…Handkerchiefs were elaborate and expensive symbols of love, especially between upper-class couples. Moreover, the strawberry motif was one of the most popular embroidery…

    • 258 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Characters lie to cover up something, but when one doesn't say anything to tell the truth, it still counts as lying. Emilia finds the handkerchief that the protagonist, Othello had given to his wife, Desdemona, but instead of giving it back; she gives it to her husband Iago. Othello has been convinced by Iago that Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio. When Desdemona looses the handkerchief she asks Emilia, "Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia?" she simply replies, "I know not, madam" (III.iv.23-24). Even though she gives it to Iago, she does not say so. Othello is further convinced that Desdemona is cheating on him and yells at her. Emilia just stands in the room saying nothing. This silence costed the faith in Othello to diminish and therefore is as bad as the things that her husband does.…

    • 515 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Handkerchief In Othello

    • 279 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The handkerchief actually comes in act 3 and it was the gift from Othello to Desdemona. It is important to Othello because it represents love. Othello is upset that Desdemona gave it to Cassio. The handkerchief is so meaningful to him and his wife, so it led Othello to incorrectly think that Desdemona cheated on him. If it was a random object, then Othello wouldn’t be suspicious of Desdemona, but since it means a lot for him, he thinks Desdemona’s action that she gave it to Cassio proves that her love towards Cassio is greater.…

    • 279 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory 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
  • Good Essays

    William Shakespeare’s play, Othello was set in the 16th century. In my performance, I decided to recreate Act 4, Scene 3, focusing on Othello. In this scene, Iago is still using his manipulating skills to persuade Othello that Cassio is the one that is sleeping with his wife. Also, we finally know Iago’s plan to get revenge on Othello.…

    • 387 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The handkerchief represents a symbolic character in Othello’s family history. In fact, the handkerchief is the first gift that Othello gives to Desdemona as a sign of marital loyalty and faithfulness. Therefore, the handkerchief is a symbol of love between Othello and Desdemona. However, after Iago plants a strong suspicion in Othello’s mind, Desdemona calls Othello for dinner and she can barely hear his voice. Desdemona ask him what’s wrong, and Othello makes the excuses that he has headache. Desdemona knows what to do in emergency’s situation, she rushes and take the handkerchief to wrap around Othello’s head and he says, “Your napkin is too little; [he puts the handkerchief from him, and she drops it.] Let it alone. Come, I’ll go in with…

    • 246 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays