Othello Group

Question:

missie-02
missie-02
Student
College - Sophomore

What is the significance of the Handkerchief, as a symbol in "Othello"?

Rate question:

Posted by missie-02 on Wednesday August 13, 2008 at 5:59 AM and tagged with handkerchief, othello, symbols.

Answers:

  1. lit24
    lit24 Teacher
    Doctorate

    eNotes Editor

    Othello tells Desdemona that the handkerchief was woven by a 200 year old sibyl  and that his mother used it to keep his father faithful to her. So for Othello, the handkerchief symbolises marital fidelity. The pattern of strawberries on the kerchief have been printed with the dye extracted from the hearts of mummified virgins and so it's  obliquely suggestive of a guarantee of virginity.Act III Sc.4

    Since the kerchief is Othello's first gift to Desedemona she treasures it as a symbol of his love to her and always has it with her,"to kiss and talk to." Act III sc.3.

    Iago manipulates the kerchief in such a way that it  represents for Othello, Desdemona herself-her chastity and fidelity- and finally by taking possession of it he is able to convert it into evidence of her infidelity[Othello:"handkerchief-confessions-handkerchief!" ActIV sc,1; Othello:"I  saw my handkerchief in his(Cassio's) hand."Act V sc.2] which results in her tragic death.

    Rate answer:

    Posted by lit24 on Wednesday August 13, 2008 at 8:07 AM

  2. jon0111
    jon0111 Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The symbol of the handkerchief is at the heart of the play's terrible irony. Given is a gift of true, honest, faithful love by Othello to Desdemona, it ultimately becomes a sign of Othello's jealousy, mistrust, and insecurity. One cannot trace this change in the symbol's significance without appreciating Iago's continual manipulation of Othello. Both the handkerchief and Desdemona remain pure and unchanged, however Iago is able to change Othello's perception of them. One of Shakespeare's recurring themes is the power of perception--Othello is willing to commit the most horrible of crimes based not upon facts, but upon his faulty interpretation of reality.

    The handkerchief is a symbol of everything Othello has. The plot of the play is about how insecurity can alter perception--even of the things we are sure of.

    Rate answer:

    Posted by jon0111 on Wednesday August 13, 2008 at 10:16 PM

  3. talal789
    talal789 Student

    sorry

    Rate answer:

    Posted by talal789 on Monday December 22, 2008 at 12:21 AM

  4. mantis
    mantis Student
    College - Freshman

    The handkerchief was a family heirloom of Othello's which he treasured dearly. When Othello hears (from the manipulator Iago) of Cassio wearing his beloved handkerchief, he is told by Iago that it was Desdemona herself who gave it to him. Othello believes the handkerchief to be a symbol of their marriage and due to the fact that she has given it to another man, he believes Desdemona has given herself to another man: "That handkerchief which i so loved and gave to thee, thou gav'st to Cassio."

    The red strawberries upon the handkerchief can also be seen as a representation of the jealousy and rage which enveolpes Othello when he hears who's the new owner of the kerchief. If he can't have Desdemona, nobody can.

    The handkerchief is also very similar to the bloody glove in the OJ Simpson case though in these instances they convinced people of the wrong conclusions. The bloody glove was substantial evidence against OJ though when used incorrectly in the court room, it became a metaphor of innocence. The handkerchief was meant to represent love and commitment, though it became a metaphor of guilt. The handkerchief is enough evidence for Othello to issue Desdemona a death sentence, which he himself follows throughs with.

    Rate answer:

    Posted by mantis on Monday November 16, 2009 at 6:19 PM