The significance of the handkerchief in othello by. As the plot of the play develops, those who have the handkerchief lose all truth, respect, and for some, their lives. The film illustrate the intensity of the trance and epilepsy othello is feeling as he see bianca give the handkerchief to cassio. The symbol of the handkerchief in othello from litcharts. Desdemona currently owns the handkerchief in the play, but othello later claims that it was given to his mother by a female egyptian charmer for the purposes of controlling men 3. In the first, othello warns desdemona that it is a lovecharm with magic in the web, given to his mother by an egyptian. The handkerchief in othello symbolizes the control that iago has over those who possess it. Iagos manipulation of the handkerchief is the turning point in the film as well as in the play. Two of the key characters are cassio, othello s loyal captain, and roderigo, a man who is love with othello s wife, desdemona. Desdemona, where should i lose that handkerchief, emilia. When desdemona cannot produce the handkerchief he wants to see, othello explains the handkerchiefs history. When desdemona looses her handkerchief, othello believes she is unfaithful. When she cannot produce it, he reveals to her that theres magic in the web of it 3.
Othello, a moorish general in the venetian army, and his treacherous ensign, iago. Othello that handkerchief did an egyptian to my mother give. Egyptian gave it to othello s mother, myth if she lost it then husband would not be under her spell. Number the stars is a book that was written in 1989 by lois lowry. The handkerchief is significant to the plot, mainly to iagos manipulation of othello and his convincing the latter of desdemonas infidelity. The play moves through time to show billie and othello s relationship or an analogue thereof being torn apart by racial tensions at a southern us cotton plantation in 1860, and in harlem in 1928 and the. 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. That handkerchief an egyptian woman gave to my mother. Character analysis of cassio and roderigo from othello. Download citation othellos black handkerchief the handkerchief in. Moreover, it sheds light over iago, desdemona, othello and emilias characters, and is thus important to characterisation.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Because othello gave it to desdemona as a first gift. Get an answer for what is the role of the handkerchief in shakesp eares othello. The ownership of the handkerchief is not necessarily a physical quality of the real object, but the characters all seem to understand it as feminine. Othello demands her handkerchief, which she cannot produce. Othello sees cassio with the handkerchief and accepts it as confirmation of desdemonas infidelity. Othello tells desdemona that an egyptian woman gave the handkerchief to his mother. In othello, shakespeare creates powerful drama from a marriage between the exotic moor othello and the venetian lady desdemona that begins with elopement and mutual devotion and ends with jealous rage and death. The handkerchief also represents othellos love and trust in desdemona. She infers promiscuity on men by feminising the exotic trope of the cursed object. Comparison othello play and film english literature essay.
The handkerchief also seems to function as a symbol of othello s mysterious past and his exoticness. Shakespeares othello act 3 scene 4 the missing handkerchief. Othello has an obsession with the handkerchief because of its history. Othello the tragedy of othello, the moor of venice is a tragedy by william shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603. An unparalleled collection of early modern books, manuscripts, and artwork connected to shakespeare, the folgers holdings have been consulted extensively in the preparation of these texts. Mentioned over 30 times within the text, the item is both distinct in design white, and dotted with images of strawberries and imbued with a deep history. The story of a moorish general othello and the soldier iago who plots to usurp him, the play features a small cast of characters who are manipulated and pitted against each other as part of iagos deceitful plan. Iago manipulates the handkerchief so that othello comes to see it as a symbol of desdemona herselfher faith and.
Othello goes on to explain that an egyptian charmer gifted the handkerchief to his mother so that its powers could help her woo his father. Othello iii iv55 75 that handkerchief did an egyptian to. Among all of his other confusions, othello seems to link the handkerchief with the idea of a confession, perhaps because the handkerchief is a kind of proof, but not a confession. When it shows up in cassios possession, othello is convinced that desdemona is unfaithful. The editions also reflect the expertise gained through the regular performance of shakespeares works in the folgers elizabethan theater. In this lesson, well take a look at what the handkerchief symbolizes. Desdemona as representation of power and possession. This special handkerchief was the first gift given by othello to desdemona, illustrating his love for her. Asked in world war 2, pearl harbor, holocaust, sweden, history of judaism.
Othello character essay in the play, othello, by william shakespeare, othello is a general in the venetian army, who also happens to be black and of muslim descent, although he is a converted christian. Harlem duet is a 1997 dramatic play by canadian playwright djanet sears. Shakespeares tragedy othello, from your trusted shakespeare source. She told othellos mother that as long as she possessed the handkerchief and kept it with her his father would love and desire her. Who made the handkerchief that othello inherited from his mother. Romance in its dramatic form, i argued in the previous chapters of this book. Yet most readers and audiences believe the couples strong love would. Othello performance 12 othello top 10 questions enotes video study guide. The significance of the handkerchief in othello, sample. The handkerchief symbolizes different things to different characters. It is of egyptian origin and possesses sentimental value for both othello and.
She was a charmer, and could almost read the thoughts of people. William shakespeare makes great use of symbols in the tragedy othello. Othello act 3 scene 4 where should i lose that handkerchief, emilia. Othello says, that handkerchief did an egyptian to my mother give. An egyptian sorceress gave it to his mother and told her that it would make her desirable and keep othellos father loyal, but if she lost it or gave it away, othellos father would leave her. What is the role of the handkerchief in shakespeares.
She, dying, gave it to me, and bid me, when my fate would have me wive, to give it to her. The most dominant symbol in the play is the handkerchief that circulates throughout the play. Every book on your english syllabus summed up in a quote from the office. That handkerchief did an egyptian to my mother give, she was a charmer and could almost read the thoughts of people.
In othello 1602, the egyptians warning challenges the patriarchal obsession to enforce morality and chastity on women. Someone with a young sweating hand like this one is bound to act up sooner or later. Billie, a young graduate student in harlem, deals with her husband othello leaving her for a white woman named mona. There was a catch though, othello explains, but if she lost it or made gift of it, my fathers eye should hold her loathed and his spirits should hunt after new fancies. Discuss the importance of the handkerchief in the play.
Othello s mother gave him the magic handkerchief on her deathbed, instructing him to give it to the woman he desired to marry. Desdemonas handkerchief in othello essay 891 words. Since the handkerchief was the first gift desdemona received from othello, she keeps it about her constantly as a symbol of othello s love. From the beginning of the play, othello is victimized and characterized as an outcast in venetian society. Emilias got her eyes on desdemonas handkerchief, which othello dropped during his angry moment. The handkerchief supposedly has some magical powers that can make the partner of the owner remain faithful as long as he or she is in possession of the. Desdemonas handkerchief in othello essay 891 words 4 pages in shakespeares play othello, one of the main characters desdemona possesses the most essential symbol and object in the play, a handkerchief.
But when emilia give iago the handkerchief there is a difference from the play version. That handkerchief did an egyptian to my mother give. When othello asks her to lend me thy handkerchief 3. Tweet about the othello book notes email the othello book notes to a friend. Othello, in full othello, the moor of venice, tragedy in five acts by william shakespeare, written in 160304 and published in 1622 in a quarto edition from a transcript of an authorial manuscript.
Andrews there are two accounts of the handkerchief in othello. He tells desdemona that an egyptian charmer gave it to his mother and that it would keep his father faithful and under her spell 3. The handkerchief appears in act iii of the play and is a. Why was the handkerchief important in number the stars.
This token bears great mystery, for othello states that it was given to his mother by an egyptian in. Othello declares her handkerchief to be too little, and pushes it away from him. Iago controls whoever has the handkerchief by making them a part of his revenge scheme. The handkerchief is actually from othello s mother that was given by an egyptian charmer. A description of the important objects, and places in othello. When desdemona cannot produce the handkerchief he wants to see, othello explains the handkerchief. Discover librarianselected research resources on othello from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. But the handkerchief, which originally belonged to an egyptian sorcerer, also comes to symbolize the illusions that iago is casting through his plotting and subterfuge.
The text published in the first folio of 1623 seems to have been based on a version revised by shakespeare himself that sticks close to the original almost line by line but introduces numerous. Othello act 3, scene 4 translation shakescleare, by. In othello, othello presents his wife desdemona with a white handkerchief embroidered with strawberries. Later in the scene, when iago has arranged it so that othello overhears cassio talking about bianca and thinks he is talking about desdemona, iago has a bit of luck. What story does othello tell to desdemona about the. With this said this is a reflection of othello s love towards desdemona it is described as an incompatibility of military heroism and love. In othello, the handkerchief becomes of paramount importance. The story revolves around its two central characters. For heres a young and sweating devil here, that commonly rebels. The handkerchief in othello, a play written by shakespeare in the early part of the 17th century, has an extremely significant role to play, in the sense that it brings about the actual change in othello. The handkerchief is an egyptian heirloom that othello gave to desdemona as. List of books and articles about othello online research.
Shakespeare builds many differences into his hero and heroine, including race, age, and cultural background. Emilia reveals that this was othellos first love token to his wife, and her husband, iago, has often asked her to steal it. The handkerchief that othello gives desdemona is, similarly, a lovetoken and therefore a symbol of their love. Get an answer for how does the handkerchief serve as a plot device in act iii of othello.
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