Blog # 3 Handkerchief (or Lack of) Scene Act 3 Scene 4

This blog will focus on a scene from the 1995 Othello starring Lawrence Fisbourne as Othello. I have included the video to the video in the bottom of the post. This scene depicts the interaction between Othello and Desdemona when Othello “confronts” Desdemona about the handkerchief. In this scene, we have two opposing forces at work. Desdemona is focused on helping Cassio, her good friend to regain favor with Othello. She in unaware that Othello believes that she cheated on him with Cassio. Othello is searching for the truth, trying to find out how the handkerchief was not in her possession.

I believe that this interpretation is highly suited or this scene. Along with the position of the camera on Othello when he tells the story about the Handkerchief and the movement of characters in the scene, this performance brings to life the words of Shakespeare. Even the setting of the actress’ movements, especially when she denied having lost the handkerchief. The actress was looking away from Othello. Even though we as readers understand that this is harmless, to Othello, she appears to be deceptive. She was not looking into his eyes. (Time stamp 1:13 to 1:16). Little directions and positioning such as this add tremendously to the spirit of the play.

Othello: That’s 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,
Or made a gift of it, my father’s eye
Should hold her loathèd, and his spirits should hunt
After new fancies. She, dying, gave it me,
And bid me, when my fate would have me wived,
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. (III:IV:65-79)

This curious story mirrors how Othello feels for Desdemona at the moment. If she has “lost” the handkerchief, then its all over between them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMZRP9hrbY4

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