His stories he told about the past. He pulls it off his head and brushes it to the ground. In fact, it seems that everything that he knows about marriage and females comes from a single handkerchief, given to him by his mother. Earn Transferable Credit & Get your Degree. Answer. On the outside, the handkerchief is a simple a piece of cloth owned by Othello's wife, Desdemona. Her mother's maid, Barbary. Who made the handkerchief that Othello inherited from his mother? It is most likely that Othello does not even realize that he threw the handkerchief on the ground. As she picks the handkerchief up, she points out that her husband has asked to her steal it a hundred times. What first attracted Desdemona to Othello? - History & Explanation, English Language Learning Programs in California, Tech and Engineering - Questions & Answers, Health and Medicine - Questions & Answers. © copyright 2003-2020 Study.com. A sibyl, or female prophet: What does the handkerchief ultimately symbolized to Othello? The Significance of the Handkerchief in Othello 829 Words | 4 Pages. Instead, she caves in and gives it to her husband. Not sure what college you want to attend yet? Othello is so worked up that when his wife comes in he says 'I am to blame. (A) His strong hands (B) His beautifully crafted armor (C) His handkerchief (D) The stories he told about his past 11. and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you. 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In Act 3, Scene 4, Othello relates that meaning to Desdemona: An Egyptian Gave that handkerchief to my mother; When Othello says that the handkerchief was his first gift to Desdemona, Iago says that he has seen Michael Cassio use that exact handkerchief to wipe his beard. As a charmed gift given to Othello by his mother, the handkerchief represents Othellos mysterious and exotic heritage, a heritage that he has repudiated as a Christian and Venetian citizen. Just a few lines after hearing this news, Othello cries 'O, blood, blood, blood' and vows revenge. Whose death does Graziano report in the final s. Become a Study.com member to unlock this 's' : ''}}. Working Scholars® Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. One of those symbols is Desdemona's handkerchief. ... Who made the handkerchief that Othello inherited from his mother? At this point, Emilia tells Othello that she stole the handkerchief for her husband and that he is responsible for manipulating Othello. Othello tells her that he has a headache. In his second account he says that his father gave the handkerchief to his mother as a sign of love when beforehand he states that it was actually an Egyptian woman who provided it to his mother. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Question. What first attracted Desdemona to Othello? Create your account. Othello's former lover. After Desdemona leaves, another character named Emilia comes in and picks up the handkerchief. Saylor.org Student Diary: All's Well That Ends Well? William Shakespeare makes great use of symbols in the tragedy ''Othello.''. In Act III, scene iii, Iago mentions that th… The ownership of the handkerchief is not necessarily a physical quality of the real object, but the characters all seem to understand it as feminine. Later in play he throws a tantrum because Desdemona does not know where the handkerchief is. Get Into Shakespeare: 10 Top Shakespeare Blogs, Saylor.org Student Diary: First Impressions of Shakespeare Online. Othello’s mother used it for the same reasons Desdemona uses it for Othello, which is where they got the idea. Who made the handkerchief that Othello inherited from his mother? All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. We can safely say that what Othello is truly angry about is the idea that Desdemona has cheated on him with Michael Cassio. What first attracted Desdemona to Othello? ', Desdemona realizes that something is wrong and asks Othello how he is feeling. 79 lessons courses that prepare you to earn It was given to Othello by his mother. If Emilia had simply made a copy of the handkerchief and then returned the original to Desdemona, her life and reputation would have been spared. Her mother’s maid, Barbary . Strawberries: Who made the handkerchief that Othello inherited from his mother? Later being given to his mother; who he claims used it to keep his father from being unfaithful to her. Interestingly, Othello provides two sides of the story of how he got the handkerchief. He says that an Egyptian told his mother that In this scene, the handkerchief may represent Desdemona's desire to heal Othello of his distress. Desdemona currently owns the handkerchief in the play, but Othello later claims that it was given to his mother by a female Egyptian charmer for the purposes of controlling men (3.4.65-71). When Othello asks her to “Lend me thy handkerchief” (3.4.52), she gives him another one, and Othello asks for the handkerchief he gave her. Who made the handkerchief that Othello inherited from his mother? Study.com has thousands of articles about every Only after Desdemona is dead does the truth come out. Who made the handkerchief that Othello inherited from his mother? Finally, in the last scenes when Othello discovers that Desdemona was framed the handkerchief again represents truth and fidelity. “That handkerchief Did an Egyptian to my mother give; She was a charmer” (III, iv, 58-60). Did you know… We have over 220 college (A) Barbary (B) Othello’s mother (C) Othello’s former lover (D) A sibyl, or female prophet 10. http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/othello/themes.html. He smothers her. barbary: desdemona’s mother’s maid: barbary: which epithet is most commonly applied to Iago throughout the play? The truth of the handkerchief comes out too late. Tomorrow 'Tis Talk Like Shakespeare Day, Methinks, Saylor.org Student Diary: The Final Entry, Saylor.org Student Diary: Tragedy - Print, Not IRL. Anyone can earn The very first time we see the handkerchief is just after Othello starts suspecting his wife of being unfaithful. Who made the handkerchief that Othello inherited from his mother? To Desdemona the handkerchief symbolizes Othellos love for her because it was from BS 5 at University of California, Santa Barbara The exchange of gifts cements relationships both between friends and romantic partnerships. William Shakespeare makes great use of symbols in the tragedy ''Othello.'' More immediately, to Othello the handkerchief represents Desdemonas chastity, and her giving it away is a sign that she has given her body away. His handkerchief. Select a subject to preview related courses: Later in the play, Othello asks Desdemona where the handkerchief is. strawberries. 200. Who is the first character to refer to Othello by name? As stated by Michael C. Andrews, “A close examination of the text suggests that Othello does indeed impute magical properties to the handkerchief.” (Andrews) If this tissue, is just that a tissue, then the magic of it is in Othello’s mind. Visit the Othello Study Guide page to learn more. Question 9. first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. When Othello believes that Desdemona has given the handkerchief to Cassio, he is actually upset at what it represents: The possibility that Desdemona slept with Cassio. What pattern is embroidered on the handkerchief? Who made the handkerchief that Othello inherited from his mother? © copyright 2003-2020 Study.com. Desdemona immediately takes out her handkerchief and presses it against Othello's head. In this lesson, we'll take a look at what the handkerchief symbolizes. In this version, Othello associates the handkerchief with his mother, fidelity, and magic. Create your account, Already registered? Othello is a warrior and statesman that admittedly knows of little else. the stories he told about his past. a sybil, or female prophet. The handkerchief contains multiple symbols as the play develops. Barbary; Othello’s mother; Othello’s former lover; A sibyl, or female prophet; 10. Othello’s first gift to his wife, it was woven using silk from sacred worms, and dye extracted from the hearts of mummified virgins. The handkerchief with strawberries scattered in it is a symbol of love and fidelity between Othello and Desdemona, as it was a symbol of loyalty to Othello’s mother. To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page. If we take a deeper look, however, we can see that the handkerchief also has deeper meaning. Barbary. In describing the origin of the handkerchief, Othello tells Desdemona that an Egyptian gave it to his mother, and before his mother ˇs death, she gave it to him. In Shakespeare's play 'Othello', does Iago lack an... Why is Iago jealous of Othello in Shakespeare's... Why does Desdemona marry Othello in Shakespeare's... Who betrayed Othello in Shakespeare's Othello? As evidenced in the following lines: That handkerchief Did an... See full answer below. The handkerchief is actually from Othello’s mother that was given by an Egyptian charmer. In this scene, the handkerchief is again used to make Othello feel insane. 6 chapters | The handkerchief supposedly has some magical powers that can make the partner of the owner remain faithful as long as he or she is in possession of the handkerchief. You can test out of the What role does the handkerchief play in Othello? What role does language play in Othello? | {{course.flashcardSetCount}} Earn Transferable Credit & Get your Degree. There was a catch though, Othello explains, ” 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.”. credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level. Who said the following: "Speak of me as I am. flashcard sets, {{courseNav.course.topics.length}} chapters | study Get access risk-free for 30 days, Othello goes on to explain that an Egyptian charmer gifted the handkerchief to his mother so that its powers could help her woo his father. Answer. ... Who made the handkerchief that Othello inherited from his mother? This is all it takes to truly push Othello over the edge. This interpretation reveals …show more content… At the climax of the play, Othello stabs his wife and kills her because he believes she slept with Cassio. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. answer this. What role does Desdemona play in comparison to Iago? When she cannot produce it, he reveals to her that “there’s magic in the web of it” (3.4.68) because an old Egyptian seer gave it to his mother, who gave it to Othello on her deathbed. Log in here for access. He has worked as an English instructor, editor and writer for the past 10 years. answer! a female prophet. The handkerchief is the evidence that Othello needs to be convinced that his wife is guilty of infidelity. He later mentions the handkerchief’s history within his family, and “if [my mother] lost [the handkerchief] or made a gift of it, my father’s eye should hold her loathed” (3.4. What first attracted Desdemona to Othello? Nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice. In Othello, why did the Duke send for Othello? Othello's mother. Symbols are concrete images whereas Motifs are abstract devices to develop thematic concerns of the play. All rights reserved. The quote was said by whom? She calls everyone into the room and says that he killed Desdemona because she cheated on him, and he knows this because she gave Michael Cassio Desdemona's handkerchief. The handkerchief is the item that convinces Othello of his wife's unfaithfulness. In this instance, the handkerchief represents Desdemona's life and Othello's sanity, both of which are in peril in Iago's hands. ... How long has Othello been in Venice prior to his marriage? It symbolises Desdemona’s supposed infidelity. His … In William Shakespeare's Othello, the handkerchief can be seen to represent truth and fidelity. He believes that this handkerchief, his first gift to Desdemona, has magical powers. Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course. A sibyl, or female prophet . Sciences, Culinary Arts and Personal The handkerchief is very important to Othello because his mother gave it to him to represent fidelity within his marriage. He tells Desdemona that it is made out of sacred items and used to belong to his mother. Answered by Aslan 8 years ago 5/11/2012 5:18 AM. His strong hands; His beautifully crafted armor; His handkerchief; The stories he told about his past; 11. The handkerchief is Othello’s gift to Desdemona. Othello's handkerchief was given to him by his mother who got it from an Egyptian. What is the Difference Between Blended Learning & Distance Learning? 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