Othello Essay, Research Paper

Jane Bonnet

Green/Cooper

English 101

April 23rd 2001

No harm is scene in an affair by the ones who attend to it, but those who are naive will soon be hurt. It is a common question that we ask our selves in a society of present times and of the past.

In reading Othello, a play written over four hundred years ago, we watch several affairs take place; many of the affairs were not sexual. It is the mere thought of being married to someone, and loving someone else, whom you are not married to, The thought of loving someone your wife or husband in this matter is merely an affair within it’s self. To what degree that we believe an affair is taking place, is all in the matter of what the person defines.

Along with essence of impurity taking place through out the play, it is the handkerchief symbolizing: betrayal, trust, love, and loyalty to one another. In scene (1.3.46.) Othello questions Desdemona where the hankcherief is? “Lend me my handkerchief.”(2.4.46) “Here, my lord.” (2.4.48) “ That which I gave you.”( 2.4.49) “I have it not about me.” (2.4.50)

This being the handkerchief Othello gave to Desdemona out of love, the one that was given to his mother by an Egyptian. For his mother was once told if she kept it, it would bring love to his father. When Desdemona is not able to produce the scarf of which Othello speaks of, Othello becomes bitter believing Iago, that Cassio is wooing his wife, and that he has won her over. In reality Iago despises Othello, seeking enjoyment by watching Othello become flustered over the thought that his lieutenant Cassio, whom

Jongewaard 2

he trusted, has taken Desdemona away from him. The evidence being his mothers Handkerchief that has gone from an Egyptian, to Othello’s mother to Othello then handed down to Desdemona out of love. And from there the scarf meaning so much as if it were a ring, that unites the two in marriage. Is no longer holding such a symbolic meaning for the couple, and is let go from there. Emila gets a hold of the scarf from Desdemona. Where it is then dropped over to Iago and where we have seen Iago thinking up his own little plan of attack against Othello, plants the handkerchief in Cassio’s chamber.

Othello now sees this scarf to be of clear evidence of betrayal. As stated before the handkerchief was as symbolic as two rings in marriage. If it is the whole truth that unites these two along with each other. Then what purpose do two rings serve? It is simply, what or, how strong of a bond that the two share with a scarf or rings. Along with a strong meaning for the two who carry a handkerchief or wear the jewelry that wraps around your wedding finger.

As the play carries on Bianca and Cassio stumble into one another, and the scarf has been picked up from Cassio who doesn’t realize that Iago planted it in his chamber. Cassio asks of Bianca since it is such a rare beauty to reduplicate the hanky for he would like to have such a thing, and she does as she is told. It’s as if to say that within each new beholder of this scarf a new meaning, has been taken on. Even when Bianca realizes that she musn’t keep the scarf and hands it back to Cassio for it is Desdemona’s.