The Real Meaning behind Othello’s Handkerchief

The Real Meaning behind Othello’s Handkerchief “Now I know I’ve got a heart, because it is breaking” A quote in the Wizard of Oz said by the Tin Man also known as Tin Woodman. Tin Man asked for a heart in his attempt to be human by learning to love. But little does he know is that a heart isn’t to be played with and trust isn’t something that should be tossed around either. The heart is a symbol in which Tin Man’s heart slowly drifts away as he gets comfortable and is unsure how to restore order. In William Shakespeare’s play Othello the protagonist Othello is a military general in Venice however he is not from Venice for he is from North Africa thus making him an important man, but also an outsider. Othello has secretly married the Venetians senator Brabantio’s daughter Desdemona in which was not permitted under his consent. Moreover, Desdemona and Othello’s marriage is later approved by the duke, and her father. As their relationship progresses Othello gives Desdemona a handkerchief in representation of “marital fidelity” Desdemona views the handkerchief as a gesture of Othello’s love, and Iago uses the handkerchief as his source of manipulation. Although, the handkerchief is used in multiple ways either out of love, trust, or manipulation it plays an important symbol in the play Othello. Initially, the handkerchief is an important symbol in the play due to its display of love between two very different of people. Desdemona is a resident of Venice and Othello is a black man who originates from North Africa. Othello and Desdemona’s love isn’t represented through their differences; it is represented by the handkerchief. Othello claims that the kerchief was woven by a 200 year old Egyptian witch in whom she told his mother that as long as she keeps the kerchief in her possession her husband will remain loyal and desire her. With this said this is a reflection of Othello’s love towards Desdemona it is described as an incompatibility of military heroism and love. Earlier in the play Othello tells the Duke to keep watch of Desdemona, “But I humbly ask you to make appropriate arrangements for my wife giving her a place to live and people to keep her company that suit her high rank” (I.iii.227-229) this was the representation of love of him putting his wife before himself which was done under no influence. Later on in the play with the influence of the handkerchief his love for Desdemona decreases due to her lack of love back. She does not display Othello the same amount of love as she misplaces the handkerchief in which she was told to treasure or else their love will be history. With her lack of care it leads Othello into suspicion if Desdemona is having an affair with another man, “I’m trembling with rage. I wouldn’t be trembling like this if I didn’t know deep down this was all true.” (IV. i.38-39) Othello falls into a trance because he allows the handkerchief to be the center of his relationship with Desdemona and that’s what leads to both of their deaths. The commitment to an inanimate object disillusions the both of them from what love truly is between the both of them not through symbolic gestures and curses. Therefore, the handkerchief displays an important symbol in the play through its show of the power of the kerchief in love that appeared inseparable. Likewise, the handkerchief plays as an important symbol in the play it is exhibited through the trust between the main characters. The kerchief plays as trust role in the view of Othello this originated from his parents’ relationship. It represents marital fidelity which vows faithfulness and loyalty to towards each spouse in which means neither will be untrusted and that no one could tempt you to change that trust otherwise; however, with the kerchief put into play that changes everything. Othello is the unfortunate victim of jealousy he feels that he isn’t good enough, he isn’t a smooth talker as he says, “There’s nothing more. I’m awkward in my speech and I’m not a smooth talker. From the time I was seven years old until nine months ago I’ve been fighting in battles. I don’t know much about the world apart from fighting.” (I.iii.84-86) His confidence in himself was weak from the beginning like he says he does not know much about the world apart from fighting with his doubts in himself his trust eventually decreases for Desdemona. Since he thinks low of himself as an outcast to the rest of Venice everything Iago says to Othello he believes because he thinks that Iago is loyal to him. The handkerchief is the symbol of Othello’s trust because it was a gift passed down from his mother to ensure that her husband will remain loyal to her, “Losing it or giving it away would be an unspeakable loss, a loss like none other.” (III.iv.64-65) with this said, this is Othello saying that if she loses this kerchief it will be a loss of his trust and for their relationship. Subsequently, the handkerchief plays a huge role in the play in regard to trust. The kerchief is the source of Othello’s love and trust which was broken for she lost the kerchief in result their love does not last. Lastly, the handkerchief plays an important role in presenting the use of manipulation. A key role in this play is the manipulation techniques used by Iago for self-gratification; whether it is plotting against Cassio a man he envy’s and Othello’s relationship with Desdemona. Firstly, Iago manipulates Othello by using reverse psychology in the sense that he made Othello worry about something he wasn’t worried about in the first place, he says to Othello, “Beware of jealousy, my lord! It’s a green-eyed monster that makes fun of the victims it devours.” (III.iii.169-170) Later Iago claims that Cassio has possession of the kerchief which gets Othello enraged because he is gullible and he jumps to conclusions easily due to his trust. Eventually Iago then manipulates Cassio to make Othello jealous. Iago and Cassio are caught in a conversation in which Othello misinterprets that Cassio admits to having an “affair” ultimately it was the two talking about Bianca, when Bianca steps in Cassio is truly lost for words for he does not know where the kerchief came from. Of course Othello misinterprets his honesty with dishonesty saying, “I wish I could keep killing him for nine years” (IV.i.169) Othello has no love for Cassio for he has been tricked into believing that his wife has been sleeping with another man. Iago’s manipulative self indeed draws attention towards the handkerchief because without it his plans would fail, but by slickly placing the kerchief in eyes sight of the certain individuals it became clear that the kerchief was a sign of betrayal. Therefore the symbolism of the handkerchief truly does have meaning to this text and is a symbol that is brought up throughout the whole play. In final analysis, the handkerchief truly is an important symbol that is displayed through a variety of ways to express the underlying message of the play Othello. Firstly, the kerchief was shown through Othello’s love for Desdemona. The handkerchief isn’t just a cloth to Desdemona it is a symbol of Othello’s love it was passed down by his mother who believed that the kerchief held magic powers in which lead to her successful relationship through loyalty and desire. Because it is her first gift from Othello, she cherishes it her lack of care however led to complete disaster in which ultimately triggered through the kerchief. Secondly, in Othello’s eyes the kerchief plays as symbol of trust he sees it as a marital fidelity. Othello warns Desdemona that if she were to lose it, their love will not last and that’s what happened. Her lack of responsibility led to Othello’s suspicion and eventually led to her fate due to her unfaithfulness towards him. Lastly, the kerchief represents as a source of manipulation; Iago manipulated Cassio and Othello with the kerchief. He exploits Cassio with his interactions with Desdemona to Othello using the kerchief as evidence knowing well Othello would not think ahead of himself and ask his wife about the situation he would jump to conclusions due to his lack of trust towards Desdemona and his self-confidence. In conclusion, although the handkerchief was used in a variety of ways either through love, trust, or manipulation it is the underlying symbol of the play thus exhibiting its importance.

Works Cited
Crowther, John, ed. “No Fear Othello.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2005. Web. 1 Oct. 2013.

Cited: Crowther, John, ed. “No Fear Othello.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2005. Web. 1 Oct. 2013.