Othello Group

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thekidd101
thekidd101
Student
High School - 12th Grade

What are two examples from Othello that Othello has a pagan heritage?

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Posted by thekidd101 on Tuesday October 27, 2009 at 3:34 PM and tagged with othello.

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  1. scarletpimpernel Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    1. The Venetians believe that Othello has the power to put a spell on someone.  When Brabantio is awakened and told that Othello and Desdemona have eloped, Brabantio truly feels that Othello has used some sort of witchcraft to win his daughter's affection (Act 1, Scene 3).  Admittedly, some of this belief in Othello's supernatural powers stems from the white Venetians' prejudice toward and stereotyping of Moors, but Shakespeare could be foreshadowing the future incident with the Othello's handkerchief in Act 3.

    2.  The most obvious example of Othello's pagan heritage is the handkerchief scene with Desdemona in Act 3, Scene 4.  When Othello asks Desdemona if he can borrow the handkerchief that his mother bestowed upon him, she cannot produce it.  Othello, of course, thinks the worst, and tells Desdemona about his mother,

    "she was a [sorcerer], and could almost read/ The thoughts of people" (3.4.58-59).

    He goes on to tell her that the handkerchief has a supernatural power and can keep people faithful to one another.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/othello/act-iii-scenes-1-4-summary-...
    http://www.enotes.com/othello/character-analysis

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    Posted by scarletpimpernel on Tuesday October 27, 2009 at 4:24 PM