Transcript Major Symbols in Othello

Do Now
Why do people give gifts to those
they love?
What type of
presents
do lovers give
to one another?
Major Symbols in
Othello
The Handkerchief
“There is magic
in
the web of it.”
The History of the
Handkerchief
• A two hundred year-old sibyl
(female prophet), using silk from
sacred worms and dye extracted
from the hearts of mummified
virgins, wove it.
• Othello claims that his mother
used it to keep his father faithful
to her, thus, the handkerchief
represents marital fidelity.
The Pattern
The pattern of strawberries is
dyed with virgins’ blood, so the
handkerchief implicitly
suggests a guarantee of
virginity as well as fidelity.
The handkerchief
symbolizes different
things for different
characters.
Desdemona
• The handkerchief was the first
gift she received from Othello
• This is a symbol of Othello’s
love
• Desdemona is always in
possession of this token of
Othello’s love
Iago
• Manipulates the handkerchief so
that Othello views it as a symbol
of Desdemona and her faith and
chastity
• By taking possession of it, Iago
uses it as evidence of
Desdemona’s “infidelity”
Othello
• Othello has given Desdemona this
handkerchief and it represents his love
• He believes there is a kind of magic in
the handkerchief
• When Desdemona loses it, for Othello,
this is the ultimate obscenity
Furthermore, the
handkerchief
also
represents
Othello’s
wedding night
with
Desdemona.
• The handkerchief has a hold
over Othello; he believes in in
and is enchanted by the token.
• Thus, the theme of magic is
reintroduced--Othello actually
believes in the magic of the
object.
IRONY
Othello reveals that he believes
the handkerchief to literally
symbolize Desdemona’s
affection; the irony is that
although the handkerchief is
lost, Desdemona still loves him.
Theme:
Appearance vs. Reality
• Things / events / people are not
what they appear to be
• Example: Iago, Cassio and
Desdemona as viewed through
Othello’s eyes
Closing Question
Why has Othello given the
handkerchief to Desdemona?