One symbol that I believe is very important in Othello is the handkerchief. The handkerchief is mentioned throughout the play because it’s the cause of the tragedy of the play. This small piece of cloth is the reason why Othello’s wife Desdemona killed her self and why Othello goes on a path of betrayal. The handkerchief is important because, in the old days of the Renaissance period, a handkerchief was considered to be a powerful symbol of a women romantic favour. Giving this item to a women meant true love, honesty, commitment, and righteousness. In Othello the handkerchief has great meaning to Othello because it was passed down to him by his mother in turn he gave it to Desdemona to commit to her and his love for her. But Iago turns the handkerchief into a weapon and used it against Othello. He manipulates the handkerchief and puts it in Cassio’s possession so Othello can see that Desdemona is committing adultery. A handkerchief is a powerful tool that plays a huge role in the turning point of the play. The handkerchief is relevant throughout the whole play because of what it stands for.

Quote:

OTHELLO That is a fault.
That handkerchief
Did an Egyptian to my mother give;
She was a charmer, and could almost read
The thoughts of people: she told her, while
she kept it,
‘Twould make her amiable and subdue my father
Entirely to her love, but if she lost it 60
Or made gift of it, my father’s eye
Should hold her loathed and his spirits should hunt
After new fancies: she, dying, gave it me;
And bid me, when my fate would have me wive,
To give it her. I did so: and take heed on’t;
Make it a darling like your precious eye;
To lose’t or give’t away were such perdition
As nothing else could match.

One text that I can compare Othello to is Medea. Medea was such a marvelous story that had such a well-rounded narration and important points throughout the book. I think Medea is a good pick because they both are telling the story of two couples that go through a very rough road in their marriage but also affect the whole outcome of the story. In Medea, Medea gets furious that her husband has broken their sacred vows of marriage to marry the daughter of the royal family. But in Othello, Desdemona and Othello are happily in love but jealousy of their peers gets between them. In each story I believe betrayal plays a huge role in the actions that each character takes.

One character that I found to be very intriguing throughout the play is Iago. Iago is such a complex character that plays the role of the mastermind through out the play. His character is so interesting because he plays two roles in the play, in another perspective he’s a two face character. Throughout the play, I came to really take a liking into the character because he sets a specific goal and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it. In some ways, Iago is a brilliant, fearless, and deviant man. Despite Iago being the antagonist the audience can take a liking to him. Every small step and action he takes he does it with a bigger meaning behind it, a more brilliant scheme. He does things with a sense of craftsmanship, and such elegance like each step is his final result. His character gives the audience a hunger to see more of his deviousness. Another thing that makes Iago such a special character is that he is self-conscious about his doings and he celebrates his actions like their the right thing. Throughout the play, I notice that Iago outsmarts every single character in the play. When we think of evil we automatically think they are violent and brutal, in most cases that’s true but with Iago, he brings forth a whole new meaning to it. Iago is able to hurt Othello but in such a brilliant and strategical way. He sticks around throughout the whole play and sticking to the shadows as he puts his plans in motion.

Iago states:

“Call up her father,
Rouse him. Make after him, poison his delight,
Proclaim him in the streets; incense her kinsmen,
And, though he in a fertile climate dwell,
Plague him with flies. Though that his joy be joy,
Yet throw such changes of vexation on ‘t
As it may lose some color.”

“But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor,
And it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets
He has done my office. I know not if ‘t be true,
But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
Will do as if for surety”.

Another performance that I chose was the very first scene from the Othello movie in which you see Cassio and Iago talking in the streets. Cassio and Iago are discussing how Othello has given a higher ranking position to someone else instead of giving it to Iago. The scene continues with them yelling in front of Desdemona’s father house and implying to her father that Desdemona is with Othello with a moor. Me reading the scene and than actually viewing it was so different than I expected. In my eyes the whole scene looks better on screen because I was able to see the emotions and characteristics of Cassio and Iago. In the screen performance when Cassio and Iago are speaking to Desdemonas father Iago never shows his face, he stays hidden behind a wooden log but tells Cassio certain things to say. That particular part I found to be important because at that very moment you can notice that Iago has the characteristics of a controller, he’s like a king that uses his pawns. Straight from the start Iago gives the audience a villainous atmosphere.

The performance that I chose that really caught my attention was when Othello and Desdemona were speaking and he slapped Desdemona in act 4. I found this small scene to be more significant when I saw it in performance in Othello portrayed by with Michael Fishbourne. When reading the book you can see that scene is emotional because of the words written. But in the movie, I was surprised how emotional Desdemona was and her face reaction. In the performance, you see Desdemona cry which in my perspective is a critical point in the scene. Looking at her cry makes the atmosphere of the whole play change because in my perspective I believe her character changes to a strong lovable women into a fragile character. Once Othello slaps her my perception of him in a way downgrades because in my eyes slapping women is nonsense, it doesn’t make you a man. I agree with this because throughout the play Othello is known to be a strong leader who loves his wife but slapping her changes everything. In the performance, you can see the anger in his face and the pain of knowing that Desdemona is deceiving him. Othello’s rage also marks his descent into savagery; ironically, he becomes the passion-stirred, beast that people accused him of being because of his race, of being a Moore. Othello then launches into a frenzy towards  Desdemona. His tone is bitter and angry, although Desdemona cannot deduce what he is talking about. At this point Desdemona doesn’t know what Othello is talking about. Watching this scene on picture was way better, I found it more interesting and it kept me entertain throughout the whole process. Michael Fishbourne did a great role and gave the character Othello a more aggressive outlook which I think fit that scene.

I was searching the web to find an intriguing painting or image that describes Othello in one full image. At first, I couldn’t find any interesting ones but at the end, I was able to find an old painting that an Italian website had. The painting caught my attention we right away because everything about the painting was perfect, in that one painting it told the story of Othello, it gives the sense that the couple in the painting which is Desdemona and Othello are having all sorts of troubles. But what I found interesting is that just by looking at the painting you can develop some type of foreshadow of what’s come in the play. Even if someone hasn’t read the play this painting provides a short glimpse of the theme of the play. The posture in which Othello and Desdemona are in is important in my opinion because it seems like Othello is mourning Desdemona and in that moment, he’s in shock and breathless. This painting allows different viewers to conclude many outcomes of the play that they may think might occur. Also from the clothing that their wearing you can assume that they are wealthy people and important. Just from this painting I strongly believe that theirs many possibilities of what you can assume and interpret it. One last thing I liked about this painting is that it makes the scene of Desdemona dying more emotional and heartbreak. The painting doesn’t show any blood or violence but it shows the tragedy in such a swift and peaceful manner. The picture grasps many aspects of the whole play in just one visual. Just by looking at it, you can see it as very dramatic, painful, but also has a sense of beauty behind it. This painting in overall represents the play at full capacity.

http://www.clubdei27.com/Italiano/marchesi_it.html

The passage I chose for this is in Act 5 scene 2.
Othello, Lodovico, and Iago. I really enjoyed this passage because Othello in this moment has become an antihero in some sort. In my perspective Othello did what he was supposed to do, even if it was out of anger he knew that he had to attack and stab Iago for all the things he has done. In that small scene of Othello attacking Iago, I believe that Othello gave up his morality and was just thinking out of rage. Analyzing this passage I came to a conclusion that any man in Othello’s shoes would have probably done the same thing. In the end, it came down to Othello trying to get rid of an evil being which was Iago. Othello says ” I look down towards his feet; but that’s a fable. If that thou best a devil, I cannot kill thee”. That line says a lot of how Othello views Iago. Devil I found it to be a significant word here because devil in society represents pure evil, someone or something willing to commit foul acts. When Lodovico tells Othello that he was once good, Othello replies with an important line which is “an honorable murderer, if you will; for nought I did in hate, but all in honor”. Personally, I completely agree with Othello’s actions, he had to do what he thought was best even if everybody else disagreed with it.

Quote:

OTHELLO
I look down towards his feet; but that’s a fable.
If that thou best a devil, I cannot kill thee.
Wounds IAGO

LODOVICO
Wrench his sword from him.

IAGO
I bleed, sir; but not kill’d.

OTHELLO
I am not sorry neither: I’ld have thee live;
For, in my sense, ’tis happiness to die.

LODOVICO
O thou Othello, thou wert once so good,
Fall’n in the practise of a damned slave,
What shall be said to thee?

OTHELLO
Why, any thing:
An honourable murderer, if you will;
For nought I did in hate, but all in honour.

One passage that I found to be interesting was the conversation between Othello, Emilia, Iago, and Gratiano. This is act 5 scene 2.
In this particular scene, I believe the truth about what happen between Othello and Desdemona really comes to light and also we can see how Othello reacts in the process. In this passage a particular symbol comes up that is shown throughout the play which is Othello’s handkerchief. The handkerchief is such a powerful symbol because in an ironic way it’s the X factor in the tragic scene. From the start of the beginning, the handkerchief was a symbol that resembled and that is part of Othello. In the line that Othello is speaking that he saw the handkerchief in Cassio’s hands, it shows a more angered Othello. He feels betrayed in the thought that Desdemona would give Cassio such a priceless item. He states “recognizance and pledge of love which I first gave her, I saw it in his hand”. I feel that Othello feels more emotional about this because since the handkerchief was given by his mother, he passed it down to Desdemona. This is some sort of pact of love . After this situation, Othello in rage stabs Emilia which was a tragic death. Emilia death, in my opinion, is so important because she was just a pawn in the whole scheme and got in the crossfire.

Qoute:

OTHELLO
‘Tis pitiful; but yet Iago knows
That she with Cassio hath the act of shame
A thousand times committed; Cassio confess’d it:
And she did gratify his amorous works
With that recognizance and pledge of love
Which I first gave her; I saw it in his hand:
It was a handkerchief, an antique token
My father gave my mother.

EMILIA
O heaven! O heavenly powers!

IAGO
Come, hold your peace.

EMILIA
‘Twill out, ’twill out: I peace!
No, I will speak as liberal as the north:
Let heaven and men and devils, let them all,
All, all, cry shame against me, yet I’ll speak.