I believe that the most important image in the whole play is the handkerchief. This small but significant image not only serves as an object but also provides us with a monumental symbol. This symbol represents the downfall of Othello. Along with Iago manipulating Othello’s brain it caused one of the most epic downfalls of a character in Shakespeare’s work. This was Othello’s first gift that he gave his lovely wife, Desdemona. As well as it being the first gift it also had family value to Othello. An Egyptian charmer gave it to his mother and as long as she had it her husband would love her and only her. In the beginning of the play Othello thought of the handkerchief to symbolize his love for Desdemona as well as her chastity and faithfulness. Iago convinces his wife, Emilia, to steal the handkerchief to convince Othello that his wife is no longer any of those things that this symbol represents. Once we see it in the possession of Cassio that is the end of Othello’s trust for his wife and vows to take action on this circumstantial evidence.
It is quite simple to see the significance of this symbol to the text. From the very beginning of this play you see the main problem of this play. Iago has a grudge against Othello because he passed on him as lieutenant giving it to Michael Cassio. Iago believes that Othello has slept with his wife, which you would think would be a bigger problem but it serves as his secondary motivation behind his plan to destroy Othello. Looking at the white napkin with strawberries spotted all over it. Othello tells Desdemona that the strawberries represent the blood from the “maidens hearts” or the “virgins blood.” Clearly you can see how important this handkerchief is to Othello due to the fact that he has family value behind it and a meaning for every stich. Iago knew this and used it to his advantage to pollute the mind of a warrior who once viewed his wife as an angel.
Quote- page 157, lines 65-79
| “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 | |||
| 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.” |
You can clearly see the importance and meaning of the handkerchief to Othello. It was the most significant gift that he can give his wife and that is why when she loses it, it is such a big deal.
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