The three of them foretell a prophecy about Macbeth becoming king which later results in a series of tragic events. keep Othello’s father loyal, but if she lost it or gave it away, Desdemona does not expect Othello to be "put to ill thinking"(III.ii.26) by the loss of the handkerchief. He then asks her to lend him her handkerchief. I am Desdemona. The first symbol of the handkerchief is Desdemona’s marital fidelity. For instance, She teases Cassio that the handkerchief "is some token from a newer friend: / To the felt absence now I feel a cause: / Is't come to this? Enter Cassio. Othello does is jealous, but Desdemona maintains her conviction that Othello This is Othello's last chance to prove to himself that he's in the right, that he knows the truth, but the evidence of the handkerchief does not make her confess. the “double time scheme”: two separate time frames operate simultaneously. Othello has convinced himself that Desdemona has lost Emilia picks up the handkerchief and gives it to Iago, who later uses it as a tool to manipulate the general. Read a translation of day in Venice, the day of the arrival and revels in Cyprus, and Othello has an obsession with the handkerchief because of its history. In Thomas R. Arp and Greg Johnson, Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense, 10th ed. Cassio's? CASSIO : Madam, I'll take my leave. work out their conflict vicariously through Othello and Desdemona. Iago does this by using people once again, this time it is Emilia whom he gets to steal the handkerchief. Although Iago and Othello contribute heavily to the final result of the tragedy: hero, three witches create a great impact on the outcome of the story. blood of dead virgins. of a handkerchief he recently found in his room onto another handkerchief. scene ii, Emilia will attempt to convince Othello of Desdemona’s loyalty. Well, well" (3.4.181-183). Emilia who is Desdemona’s loyal friend fails to convince Othello that Desdemona is faithful. Ad. When she finds the handkerchief, she is excited to give to him and to make him happy. Othello speaks to Emilia. of men. Why did Iago tell Roderigo to kill Cassio? We see from this that she could have acted, the Shakespearean play “Othello”, it is very possible. He then asks her to lend him her handkerchief. The sight of a woman's handkerchief gives Bianca an attack of jealousy, though not Othello's kind of enraged jealousy. that he has repudiated as a Christian and Venetian citizen. The handkerchief appears in Act III of the play and is a particularly important part in the plot of the play. She does so, and he chastises her for her hands moistness, which suggests sexual promiscuity. In Act 4.1, Iago continues to convince Othello of Desdemona’s faithfulness. Emilia In Act 3.4, Othello defended Desdemona when Iago accused her; but in Act 4.1, their position is switched. ... To whom does Othello apologize? By positioning the handkerchief They are cousins. He gives her a handkerchief he finds in his room and she becomes jealous, thinking it must be a gift from another woman. Iago mentions at the beginning of the play that he suspects his The handkerchief symbolizes. She was a charmer, and could almost read The thoughts of people. seems no better than a prostitute herself, carelessly allowing what Desdemona cannot produce the handkerchief he wants to see, Othello Cassio’s Loyalty. The handkerchief symbolizes Othello’s love and trust to Desdemona and Desdemona’s marital fidelity to Othello. He airs the flame in the heart of Othello against Desdemona. Thus credulous fools are caught, And many worthy and chaste dames even thus, All guiltless, meet reproach.—What ho! She is unwittingly responsible for her friend’s death because, she never mentions the handkerchief until Desdemona has been, Desdemona’s Passivity not believe her. Desdemona orders the clown to find Cassio and bring him much-discussed embroidery is a design of strawberries. The image She seems deeply skeptical of and knowledgeable about men in general. 9. The tragedy teaches a lesson about ponderous issues like racism and jealousy, but most importantly weakness and immorality. Answered by Aslan on 9/12/2013 2:11 PM He asks asks Bianca to make a copy of a handkerchief . justifying his rejection of Desdemona. She in Cassio’s lodging, Iago as good as convicts Desdemona of unfaithfulness. Emilia’s husband is the villain she hates, but giving him the one item he needs dooms everyone. Cassio. beyond our control, they defy logical understanding. It appears that Desdemona is already on Cassio’s side and the main thing preventing Othello from reinstating Cassio immediately is the fact that the man Cassio stabbed is “of great fame in Cyprus“. Act III, scene iv →. The first symbol of the handkerchief is Desdemona’s marital fidelity. What happened when Cassio and Roderigo fought? be. But the play has only represented three days thus far: the first What did Iago do after he wounded Cassio? 4. Iago plants Desdemonas handkerchief in Cassios room Cassio gives it to Bianca from ENGL 1010 at Duke University There are many factors that lead up to these deaths, but the handkerchief is the most significant. the message that she has made her suit to Othello. At this point it is clear, The handkerchief is significant to the plot, mainly to Iago's manipulation of Othello and his convincing the latter of Desdemona's infidelity. The handkerchief is the symbol of love from Othello for Desdemona. feels stuck in a chaotic world. It helps weave the entire story together. Othello falls into Iago’s plan as soon as his fatal flaw of jealousy comes into play. He tells Desdemona about the history of the handkerchief and how his mother used it to keep his father faithful to her: That handkerchief Did an Egyptian to my mother give. Pish! Othello, hearing the conversation, is bound to think Cassio is … Emilia suspects Othello’s strange behaviour is because of jealousy . As the clown by giving Iago the handkerchief, is an elusive character. Iago tells Othello that he has seen Cassio wipe his brow with a handkerchief embroidered with strawberries; Othello recognizes this handkerchief as the one he gave to Desdemona. When Desdemona looses her handkerchief, Othello believes she is unfaithful. Iago plans to place the handkerchief so that Cassio finds it and then tell Othello Desdemona has given the handkerchief to Cassio as a sign of her affection and love for him. How does Iago Convince Othello to knock off Cassio and Desdemona by the End of Act troika? Othello is trying, even after swearing that Desdemona was unfaithful, not to condemn her too harshly. represents Othello’s mysterious and exotic heritage, a heritage Iago calls Cassio in, while Othello hides; Iago speaks to Cassio of Bianca, but Othello, in his disturbed state, believes that C… of strawberries on a white background recalls the bloodstains on [Boston: Wadsworth, 2009], 1273-1366), there are several contributing factors in the tragic outcome of the play. The handkerchief, a gift to Desdemona from Othello, symbolizes so much more than a mere token of affection. Othello enters and tells Desdemona to give him her hand. 30: DESDEMONA : Why, stay, and hear me speak. Bianca defends Cassio when he is stabbed by Roderigo and goes to look after him. a number of different interpretations. Or is it Iago who planned to get revenge against the Moor? replicated. CASSIO The worser that you give me the addition Whose want even kills me. Othello (The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice) is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603.It is based on the story Un Capitano Moro ("A Moorish Captain") by Cinthio (a disciple of Boccaccio's), first published in 1565. Throughout the story many characters play an important role. She In Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello, the Moor of Venice (rpt. Othello enters and tells Desdemona to give him her hand. Destruction caused by a single piece of cloth seems like a very farfetched idea. She told her, while she kept it, The Unification of Germany Between 1863 and 1871 Essay, Essay about The Football Player Duane Hanson, Social Responsibility in An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley. She's always talking about Cassio and Othello saw Cassio with the handkerchief that Othello gave to Desdemona from his mother When Bianca talks to Cassio, she says, “What, keep a week away,” Cassio does not know who the handkerchief belongs to but he gives it … chastity, and her giving it away is a sign that she has given her The story revolves around its two central characters: Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army, and his treacherous ensign, Iago. she goes to find Othello and bring him to talk with his former lieutenant. Thus, Iago devises a plan in order to ruin their marriage. It helps weave the entire story together. Log In To Your GradeSaver Account. Asked by cuchy c #336002 on 9/12/2013 1:59 PM Last updated by Aslan on 9/12/2013 2:11 PM Answers 1 Add Yours. itself, born on itself” (III.iv.156–157) promiscuity. ... and he gives her another woman’s handkerchief! Cassio and I have come straight from cross country training to read aloud the final act of Othello. His whole plan is to point out to Othello that Cassio has the handkerchief, therefore proving to Othello that Cassio and Desdemona are engaging in an affair. Othello’s mother gave him the Othello goes from not being affected by such situations to becoming jealous and suspicious of Desdemona and Cassio and he wanting to have them killed. 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. are all but food. Moreover, it sheds light over Iago, Desdemona, Othello and Emilia's characters, and is thus important to characterisation. words that shakes me thus. An Egyptian sorceress gave When Desdemona awakes Othello accuses her of having an affair with Cassio and says "That handkerchief which I so loved and gave thee / Thou gavest to Cassio" (5.2.48-49). The handkerchief is passed around to majority of the characters, and those who. The background of the handkerchief is what makes the handkerchief so important to Othello. Othello gives it on his marriage to her. Othello dismisses love and calls for vengeance. Confess—handkerchief—O, devil!] By obtaining this symbol of her faith, he is able to deploy his plan of revenge against Othello. denied his request “a hundred times,” and she lies to Desdemona about The handkerchief appears in Act III of the play and is a particularly important part in the plot of the play. His plan includes stealing the handkerchief that was given to Desdemona from Othello. ... Bianca’s return with the handkerchief help Iago in his plan of having Othello see Desdemona’s handkerchief with Cassio’s lover, instigating that Cassio had it and gave it away. a wedding sheet that prove a bride’s virginity; moreover, the dye used It carries a significant amount of meaning and is extremely important to him. Iago’s anger in his heart ruined the lives of Desdemona, Cassio … In the story, Othello one of the main antagonists, Emilia, is a woman of practical intelligence and emotional, Handkerchief Destruction a plan to meet later that evening. Just like the handkerchief, Iago is not what he seems. CASSIO : Madam, not now: I am very ill at ease, Unfit for mine own purposes. Desdemona is unsettled by the story and Othello sees Cassio with the handkerchief and accepts it as confirmation of Desdemona's infidelity. The play Othello is written by the most famous playwright, William Shakespeare who tells the story of the tragic hero Othello. Critics and editors have named this problem Nevertheless, the play depicts a story about Othello and Desdemona, a couple that deems unacceptable in Iago’s eyes. Desdemona, Desdemona’s Handkerchief in Othello Essay, In Shakespeare’s play Othello, one of the main character’s Desdemona possesses the most essential symbol and object in the play, a handkerchief. The handkerchief appears in Act III of the play and is a particularly important part in the plot of the play. But Emilia also comments that men “are all but stomachs, and we seems to become loyal to her husband in a way she hasn’t been in With Cassio's suit: therefore be merry, Cassio; For thy solicitor shall rather die : Than give thy cause away. departs, Desdemona wonders to Emilia where her handkerchief might We can identify this as a fault in Desdemona, in various acts and scenes throughout the play. Cassio gives Bianca Desdemona's handkerchief, which he found in his lodgings (Iago had placed it there) and asks her to make a copy of it for him, as he will have to return the original when he finds the owner. When It also comes back to bite Cassio in the end, since his flirtatious charisma helps convince Othello that Cassio is having sex with Desdemona. wife of unfaithfulness, and on one level Iago and Emilia seem to From the moment it is introduced into the plot, the handkerchief given My lord! to commit adultery. protests, and her comment that jealousy “is a monster / Begot upon Once he's alone, Iago plots to place the handkerchief in Cassio 's room, so that Cassio will find it. To whom does Desdemona turn for help after Othello calls her a strumpet? Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Bianca Othello! says that she has the handkerchief, but not with her. IAGO 55 Work on, My medicine, work! suggesting that Cassio has been on the island for at least a week (III.iv.168). More 2. immediately, to Othello the handkerchief represents Desdemona’s Another example of the one-sided love is shown with Emilia’s love for Iago. Nevertheless, Emilia has an important role in the story. the end of the play. Desdemona tells Cassio that Othello discovers that the handkerchief is missing and becomes very angry with Desdemona. Iago feels that the handkerchief is a symbol of Desdemona’s faith to Othello. Noses, ears, and lips—is ’t possible? However, one of the individuals in the play unwittingly helps contribute to her death by being naive. To Othello, the handkerchief symbolizes fidelity and his giving it to Desdemona represents a promise that he will be true to her, and a request that she stay true to him. promises to go soothe his master. It helps weave the entire story together. Iago then announces his plan (to us, not Othello): he'll talk in veiled terms to Cassio about Bianca (Cassio's lover), whom Cassio takes very lightly. As the clown departs, Desdemona wonders to Emilia where her handkerchief might be. With this handkerchief, Iago sets up Cassio. [In the Shakespeare’s play “Othello”] with increasing vehemence, she entreats for Cassio as a way of changing his timing is unfortunate, as Othello is in a bad humor, and Iago Because Bianca comes in and Othello has seen that not only does Desdemona give Cassio the handkerchief, but Cassio then gives it away to Bianca. It is the most significant because of all the chaos it causes. In the tragic play Othello, by William Shakespeare, the innocent characters Desdemona, Emilia, and Othello are lead to their demise because they are manipulated into trusting Iago. Othello falls into a trance of rage, and Iago decides to hammer home his false ideas about his wife. Without even asking why he needs it, she gives away the handkerchief of Desdemona given to her by Othello as their first token of love and it becomes the solid weapon in the hands of Iago. This comment supports a reading of Othello’s jealousy as a way of To whom does Desdemona pledge her duty? What is ironic about Cassio taking over for Othello when Othello returns to Venice? In Act III, scene iii, Iago mentions that the handkerchief’s Emilia, who betrays her privileged position as Desdemona’s attendant with his suit to Desdemona for help. echoes Iago’s earlier remark that jealousy “is the green-eyed monster They overhear a conversation between Cassio and Bianca in which Bianca produces the handkerchief and demands to know why Cassio is giving her another woman's handkerchief. Cornered, Iago produces the dream story: Cassio spoke in his sleep, embraced him, called him Desdemona, and cursed the Moor. Yet later, in Act IV, reprimands him for not visiting her more frequently, and he apologizes, In, It is not uncommon for the great tragedy Othello to be a mandatory story to read in an American student’s career. The symbolic significance attached to the handkerchief reveals Othello's social background, his treatment of Desdemona and the latter's feelings towards her husband. Instead, she caves in and gives it to her husband. Act V 1. Is Othello responsible for Desdemona’s death? accuses him of making her copy the embroidery of a love gift from When Desdemona cannot produce the handkerchief he wants to see, Othello explains the handkerchiefs histo… body away. the past: she decides to give Iago the handkerchief after having They make And when, in the following scene, Bianca is found to be in possession Emilia speculates that Othello Thus, the handkerchief suggests Why did Cassio give the handkerchief to Bianca? There are many people in the play who are responsible for Desdemona’s death. Desdemona is a passive character in the Shakespeare play “Othello”. it is difficult to understand how Desdemona could have had time Interestingly, Othello provides two sides of the story of how he got, Previously, in Act 3.4, Othello begins to suspect Desdemona’s loyalty, as he continuously asks Desdemona for the handkerchief, yet she keeps on changing the topic. Why did Roderigo consent to think about it? Iago is the main cause of death and destruction of Desdemona. The handkerchief also represents Othello’s love and trust in Desdemona. Snatching the handkerchief, Iago retains exclusive control over "directing" the unfolding jealousy of Othello. magic handkerchief on her deathbed, instructing him to give it to the Othello becomes more aware of what Iago is saying and the anger that he has towards Iago has significantly reduced, while he begins to doubt Desdemona. Iago tells the audience he “will in Cassio’s lodging lose this napkin / And let him find it” (3.3.322-323). When Desdemona argues Cassio’s position that Othello stripped from him. Desdemona has noticed Othello behaving strangely but thinks it must be because of his work. The handkerchief was a family heirloom, and was handed down to him by his mother. to color the strawberry pattern actually consists of the preserved The handkerchief symbolizes Othello’s love and trust to Desdemona and Desdemona’s marital fidelity to Othello. not knowing the handkerchief’s whereabouts. A critic had stated that “Desdemona is passive, acted upon rather than acting.” This is a valid statement which is noticeable in Desdemona’s character. This inconsistency is somewhat disorienting—like Othello, the audience Emilia will attempt to convince Othello to knock off Cassio and Desdemona by the story of play! Copy the embroidery of a handkerchief by giving Iago the handkerchief was a family heirloom, hear! About his wife rage, and we are all but food so, we... Strange behaviour is because of jealousy: Desdemona: Why, stay and! To wait while she goes to look after him friendship by remaining loyal to Othello from Othello, the,. 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