Very important to understand allegories and symbols which Shakespeare uses in Othello, since they help to uncover additional layers of meaning in the play and serve as a kind of “imaginary visuals” to the reader, which allow enhancing the emotional burden of the tragedy.
In literature the moon is used very often as allegory of purity, romantic love and chastity. But Shakespeare changes the traditional perception of this image. For instance, his moon alludes to the changeability of fortune and the fickleness of women. The finest example can be found in scene, when Iago convinces Othello that he is being deceived by his wife, after which Othello questions him, referring to Desdemona as the moon: “Why, why is this?/Think’st thou I’d make a life of jealousy,/To follow still the changes of the moon/With fresh suspicions?/ No. To be once in doubt/Is (once) to be resolved (3.3.210) Othello believes in Desdemona’s purity, yet does not deny her changeable nature, that’ s why he is using this allegory, the moon is pure, and nevertheless, it is not constant. Later, when he indicts Desdemona in infidelity he again, relates her to the moon: “What committed!] Heaven stops the nose at it and the moon winks ” (4.2.85). The moon, once pure, is now seducing. Similarly, Othello believes that Desdemona, once faithful, is betraying him. These two examples are serves as the allegory for the inconstancy of love, and, as a result, the cause of madness: “It is the very error of the moon. She comes more nearer earth then she was wont /And makes men mad” (5.2.135) Perhaps, Shakespeare implies that changeability of women, rather then moon was resulted the tragedy.
Another interesting symbol, which Shakespeare uses in his play, is handkerchief, which symbolized Desdemona’s honest name, fidelity and her love. With loss of this handkerchief she lost not only Othello’s trust, but also her chaste. The pattern is very symbolic, white fabric spotted with red strawberries, that were hand stitched with thread that has been dyed “in mummy, which the skillful conserved of maidens’ hearts” or, virgins’ blood (3.4.85). This handkerchief resembles a wedding sheet with stains of virgin’s blood. While Desdemona possessed it, she is honest and faithful. But the moment she lost it, she loses her honest name. Also, within a renaissance period, the handkerchief is a powerful symbol of a woman’s romantic favor. Therefore, when Othello sees it in the Cassio’s hands, he is convinced that Desdemona is unfaithful and has some feelings for Cassio.
Another interesting symbol is the candle, which symbolizes Desdemona’s fragile life. Othello blows out the light just before he strangles Desdemona, and he draws the parallel himself: “Put out the light, and then put out the light”(5.2.5) He understands the irreversibility of his actions, as evident from his words: “If I quench tree, thou flaming minister, /I can again thy former light restore/Should I repent me. But once put out thy light, /Thou cunning’st pattern of excelling nature,/ I know where is that Promethean heat /That can thy light relume.”(5.2.10) Therefore, this frighteningly poetic parallel, drawn by Shakespeare is another example of “imaginary visuals” that we could find in Othello play.
To conclude, much said about superb language of Shakespeare, his magnificent poetic style, but I particularly like to mention the visual imagery, which he creates with help of his magical linguistic symbolism. It helps the reader to see the entire palette of human emotions through the text, and conceive each mise-en-scene of the play.
