The Handkerchief Of Shakespeare s Othello - 1730 Words

Handkerchief Destruction Destruction caused by a single piece of cloth seems like a very farfetched idea. 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. The background of the handkerchief is what makes the handkerchief so important to Othello. The handkerchief was a family heirloom, and was handed down to him by his mother. The handkerchief is passed around to majority of the characters, and those who came in contact with it changed the plot of the play; however, the men played a bigger role with the handkerchief than the women due to Iago. Iago is the main source of how the handkerchief was passed around to different characters because of his desire to manipulate others, and his desire for revenge. The handkerchief represent love and chastity, but also manipulation and infidelity. The handkerchief first represented Othello’s love for Desdemona, but Iago uses the handkerchief to as the form of â€Å"ocular proof† for Othello; therefore, it makes Othello believe Desdemona is unfaithful to him. A small handkerchief is what leads to many deaths because it creates jealously, but the jealously was caused by manipulation. In today’s society, it is unrealistic that a small cloth could lead to so much death, but it is possible that something such as a text could cause raging jealously. The handkerchief serves as the main symbol in the play because it takes on a role of its own, and itShow MoreRelatedOthello, By William Shakespeare957 Words   |  4 Pagestruth. The best example of that would be the play Othello by the great William Shakespeare. As little as a handkerchief could make a difference if it is a symbol for something. In the play Othello by Shakespeare, handkerchief is first introduced by Othello to his beautiful mistress, Desdemona, as a sign of their love. At the end of the play what gets Othello to take extreme measures by the locati on of the handkerchief. As the symbol of the handkerchief transforms from a strong symbol of love to a giftRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Othello By William Shakespeare938 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Tragedy of Othello† is commonly considered one of Shakespeare s greatest tragedies and one of his finest works. In this play we see many literary devices at work. Several of these devices are involved in Iago’s deceitful plot against Othello that creates much suspense for the duration of the play. In â€Å"The Tragedy of Othello,† William Shakespeare uses symbolism, irony, and tone to create this classic drama. Symbols are central to understanding â€Å"Othello† as a play. There are two significantRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Othello By William Shakespeare757 Words   |  4 Pages The Tragedy of Othello by William Shakespeare William Shakespeare uses many literary devices to enhance and provide greater complexity in his works. More specifically, the theme, symbolism, and dramatic irony are used to enrich Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Othello. The plot is definitely engaging but the theme allows for an universal human correspondence, furthering the depth of the author’s message. The element of symbolism contributes to the theme of Shakespeare’s tragedy. Symbolism expressesRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Othello, Desdemona And Othello1521 Words   |  7 Pagesplay â€Å"Othello†, Desdemona and Othello married, they desired to share their life together, and even consummated the marriage through sex, but their views of love differ. Let me explain the opposition of how the audience may view the handkerchief as Symbols and also how the symbols have different meaning between the characters in the play. What did the handkerchief mean to both Othello and Desdemona. Was the handkerchief a symbol of Christianity or paganism of magic. How did the handkerchief effectRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare Essay1444 Words   |  6 Pageshave meaning. In Othello by William Shakespeare, Iago is the villian present in the drama. He manipulates people into thinking things that aren t true. The way the author lets the reader know the plan behind Iago’s actions, but not the other characters, the irony that s present in the words he uses to describe Iago, and the symbolism he uses to cause betrayal for other characters, helps one to realize that Iago is the villain. One can see the villainry that s present in Iago s character when heRead MoreOf Mice And Men And Othello Analysis1530 Words   |  7 PagesImpossibility of Ideals in Othello and Of Mice and Men It is a celebrated part of human nature to dream big. All too often, these idealistic dreams become too big, and as demonstrated in Othello by William Shakespeare and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the harsh reality will always catch up. Othello is the story of a successful venetian general who, despite being a moor, marries Desdemona, a beautiful woman whom he loves with all his heart. Through a jealous ploy by Iago, Othello begins to doubt theRead More Irregularities in Othello1716 Words   |  7 PagesIrregularities in Othello  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   The Shakespearean tragedy Othello contains various irregularities of time and occurrence which cause the audience to scratch their head in wonder and doubt. Let us analyze some of these shortcomings in this essay.    In the Introduction to The Riverside Shakespeare Frank Kermode explains one of the difficulties in Othello:    Othello murders his wife on the second night in Cyprus. The difficulty, of which Shakespeare was clearly aware, arisesRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare954 Words   |  4 PagesIn the Shakespeare play Othello, Othello is looking for ocular proof that his wife is cheating on him. â€Å"Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore, be sure of it. Give me the ocular proof Or by the worth of mine eternal soul Thou hadst been better have been born a dog than answer my waked wrath!†(3.3.369-373) In this quote Iago just told Othello that Desdemona was cheating on him with Cassio. Othello says he will kill Iago if he’s lying. Othello didn’t realize the entire play that â€Å"ocular proof†Read MoreOthello By William Shakespeare s Othello Essay1230 Words   |  5 Pages 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. In Act 4.1, Iago co ntinues to convince Othello of Desdemona’s faithfulness. In Act 3.4, Othello defended Desdemona when Iago accused her; but in Act 4.1, their position is switched. 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.Read MoreManipulating The Supernatural : William Shakespeare s Othello And A Midsummer Night s Dream883 Words   |  4 Pagestoward people that we can relate to. Because of this Shakespeare made his characters as relatable as possible to the audience members of the late fifteenth and early sixteenth century and their views on life so he could generate more recognition for his plays. Throughout Shakespeare s plays, Othello and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, he appeals to the audience by relating to their human nature. One of the major observations of human nature that Shakespeare likely made and incorporated into his plays is the