What does the handkerchief represent in Othello?
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 the handkerchief mean to Cassio?
betrayal
Why does Othello care about Desdemona’s handkerchief?
Since the handkerchief was the first gift Desdemona received from Othello, she keeps it about her constantly as a symbol of Othello’s love. Othello claims that his mother used it to keep his father faithful to her, so, to him, the handkerchief represents marital fidelity.
What happens in Act 3 Scene 3 of Othello?
Cassio speaks to Desdemona, asking her to intercede with Othello on his behalf. Desdemona willingly agrees, knowing that Cassio is an old friend of Othello’s. Desdemona speaks of Cassio, and Othello, to please her, agrees to see him, but he is distracted by his private thoughts. …
What happens in Act 2 Scene 3 of Othello?
Summary: Act II, scene iii. Othello leaves Cassio on guard during the revels, reminding him to practice self-restraint during the celebration. Once Othello is gone, Iago enters and joins Cassio on guard. He tells Cassio that he suspects Desdemona to be a temptress, but Cassio maintains that she is modest.
Why does Iago think Emilia cheated on him?
In this instance, he makes his intentions obvious. He wants to get even with the general for cheating with his wife. “Hath leap’d into my seat” as in the previous instance, makes it clear that he believes that Othello had usurped his position and committed adultery with Emilia.
Why does Cassio kiss Emilia?
Cassio welcomes Desdemona and Emilia—flirtatiously kissing Emilia. Iago quips that if Emilia would kiss Cassio’s lips as deftly as she whips him (Iago) with her tongue, Cassio would be over her quickly. As Iago mocks his wife for being a nag, Desdemona tries to defend her. Desdemona then asks Iago his opinion of women.
Why is Iago jealous of Othello?
He is consumed with jealousy of Cassio and masked with hatred of Othello because he was not chosen as lieutenant, Cassio was. Iago is selfish in that he wants everyone to feel as he does so he engineers the jealousy of other characters. This scene is significant in that it immediately portrays Iago as a villain.
Who is Iago jealous of in Othello?
102). In fact, Iago keeps creating lies of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness to make Othello highly jealous of Cassio and Desdemona. By now Iago has completely changed Othello’s perception of Cassio. Iago’s main aim is to spoil the lives of both Cassio and Othello’s family.
Who is more jealous Othello or Iago?
He makes his decision based only on what Iago is merely suggesting to him without questioning Iago’s motives. That being said, it is just as easy to argue that Iago is the more jealous of the two. He is terribly jealous of the fact that Othello promoted Cassio over him, and he is also jealous of Othello’s popularity.
Who is the most jealous in Othello?
Iago
Is Roderigo jealous of Othello?
Jealousy: Roderigo is insanely jealous of Othello because he is married to Desdemona whom Roderigo is ultimately in love with. He is so in love with her, he can’t see that she is desperately in love with Othello and what a jerk Iago actually is.
What is Emilia jealous of in Othello?
On one level, Emilia’s speech functions as a commentary on jealousy as a self-motivating force. Yet her words unconsciously take on a double meaning, for, unbeknownst to her, it is her husband’s sexual jealousy that begets Othello’s own sexual jealousy, and which ultimately leads to Desdemona’s murder.
Why does Othello kill himself?
Iago manipulates Othello into believing his wife Desdemona is unfaithful, stirring Othello’s jealousy. Othello allows jealousy to consume him, murders Desdemona, and then kills himself.
Does Othello regret killing Desdemona?
Expert Answers At first, Othello does not regret killing Desdemona. He may struggle somewhat in actually committing the murder, declaring her to be his “light,” but after she has died, he argues to Desdemona’s attendant, Emilia, that she deserved it because she was “false as water” and had slept with Cassio.
What does Othello say before death?
Othello’s suicide serves as a kind of trial in which he decides on and enacts a punishment for his crime of killing Desdemona. In his final speech, he explains how he hopes to be remembered, saying “When you shall these unlucky deed relate / Speak of me as I am” (5.2.).
Does Othello justify his killing of Desdemona?
What does he think he is doing, and why? Othello still loves Desdemona, and does not want to see her slaughtered so he decides to smother her. Othello believes by killing her in this manner and by letting her repent her “sins” he is saving her soul and sending her to heaven.
What does Desdemona say before death?
Desdemona declares she is guiltless, but when Emilia asks her who murdered her, she refuses to name Othello. “Nobody. I myself,” Desdemona says. Desdemona finally dies asking Emilia to give Othello her love (5.2.
Does Desdemona cheat on Othello?
Desdemona’s love for Othello is pure, constant, and unconditional. She would never cheat on Othello. Unlike Emilia, Desdemona’s love is absolute; no price or prize could tempt her to commit adultery; no unkind act on Othello’s part could drive her to another man.
Does Othello still love Desdemona?
Othello does truly love Desdemona. This love is expressed in his admiration and devotion for her. However, as a black man who has had to fight for all his respect, he cannot bear to lose it. Othello’s prestige is what carried him through life in a racist society, before he even met Desdemona.
Why does Desdemona still love Othello?
By his own admission, Desdemona fell in love with Othello’s bravery and for surviving many sorrows and tribulations. She pities his past. Othello, in turn, loves the fact that she admires him. From his point of view, he has a loving, obedient wife who admires his ability to endure dangers.
Why did Desdemona marry Othello?
Desdemona marries Othello because she is intrigued by his adventurous past as a soldier who has been to exotic lands. She overhears his stories about his exploits in foreign lands and later asks him to tell these to her in person.
Is Roderigo in love with Desdemona?
He loves Desdemona so much that he says that he cannot live if she is not with him, as explained by his quote, “I will incontinently drown myself.” (I. iii, 302). Roderigo’s love for Desdemona blurs his judgement and he spends almost all of his money in an attempt to win her love in Cyprus.
Does Roderigo hate Othello?
Roderigo hates Othello because in his eyes, Othello stole his bride.
Who does Cassio love in Othello?
Desdemona
Does Cassio die in Othello?
11) Does Cassio die? The moment Iago notices that Roderigo has failed to murder Cassio, he sneaks up behind Cassio and slashes his legs, hoping to kill his rival himself. But Cassio receives medical attention and survives both attacks.
Did Iago kill Cassio?
Iago then withdraws himself, although Roderigo asks him not to go too far in case he needs help killing Cassio. Cassio enters, and Roderigo stabs at him but fails to pierce Cassio’s armor. Cassio stabs and wounds Roderigo. Iago darts out in the commotion, stabs Cassio in the leg, and exits.
Who killed Emilia?
Emilia having heard from Othello that Iago told him of Desdemona “cheating” on him with Cassio, accuses him of gross dishonesty leading to an unjust murder. When she hears about the handkerchief, she reveals her role and Iago threatens and then kills her at the first opportunity.
Why does Desdemona blame herself for her death?
Iago proves this scene a key edge for his success and downfall of his opposition Desdemona, Cassio and Othello. So, it is the fault of Desdemona that she let herself be killed. Because she thinks that she does everything perfectly. Her gullibility paves the way for her death.