What does the handkerchief symbolize for Desdemona?
The handkerchief initially is a gift given to Desdemona by Othello as a love token. It is subsequently symbolically transformed into Desdemona’s bedsheets, which she uses to reveal her true innocence and fidelity to Othello; and finally, Desdemona requests that the bedsheets be used to cover her as a death shroud.
What does Desdemona say about the handkerchief?
As Desdemona hands him a normal handkerchief, Othello asks her where her special handkerchief is. Desdemona simply says she doesn’t have it with her, likely because she doesn’t want to upset him by saying that it’s lost.
How would you describe Desdemona?
Desdemona is at times a submissive character, most notably in her willingness to take credit for her own murder. The play, then, depicts Desdemona contradictorily as a self-effacing, faithful wife and as a bold, independent personality.
Who is Desdemona in the play Othello?
Desdemona, fictional character, the wife of Othello and the object of his unwarranted jealousy, in William Shakespeare’s tragic drama Othello (written 1603–04). The daughter of a Venetian senator, Desdemona is greatly loved by Othello, an honoured and heroic Moorish general in the service of Venice.
Why does Emilia tell Desdemona about the handkerchief?
Emilia recognizes the powerful love and loyalty Desdemona feels for Othello, and she knows that the handkerchief symbolizes these emotions. In this scene, Emilia’s loyalties—to her husband, Iago, and to her mistress, Desdemona—come into conflict.
What does the handkerchief represent to Bianca?
Bianca is clearly in love with Cassio, who is basically using her. Her jealous outburst over the handkerchief plays into the hands of the villain, and she stands accused of conspiracy. Bianca stands as a reminder of how women were treated in Elizabethan England.
What color is Desdemona’s handkerchief?
white
The white handkerchief orients reader interest toward Desdemona, Othello’s Venetian (and white) wife. The black handkerchief reaffirms the play’s interest in the character Othello while forcing readers to question the implications of this alternate reading.
What does Othello tell Desdemona is so special about the handkerchief he gave her?
More immediately, to Othello the handkerchief represents Desdemona’s chastity, and her giving it away is a sign that she has given her body away. In Act III, scene iii, Iago mentions that the handkerchief’s much-discussed embroidery is a design of strawberries.
What story is attached to the handkerchief?
What story is attached to the handkerchief? It was the first thing Othello gave Desdemona. It was an ancestral heirloom passed down with magical qualities attached to it.
Why was the handkerchief important in number the stars?
Annemarie wants to know why the handkerchief was so vital. Uncle Henrik explains that she is being told a secret. The Germans have trained dogs to find humans so they can tell if there is anyone hiding in a boat. The handkerchief saved them all.
How does Desdemona misplace her handkerchief?
As he can tell that Othello is suspicious, he tells him to just watch his wife when she’s around Cassio. How does Desdemona lose her handkerchief? Iago’s going to put the handkerchief in Cassio’s home.
How does Emilia respond when Desdemona asks about the handkerchief?
Emilia sees the handkerchief fall and stays to pick it up. She’s glad she’s found it because it’s precious to Desdemona and because, as she says, “My wayward husband hath a hundred times / Woo’d me to steal it” (3.3. 292-293).