Rachel Igoe
English Honors
G-Period
14 November 2010
Quote Analysis Act 3 Scene 4
“ ‘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 loathed, and his spirits should hunt / After new fancies” (III.iv.70-74)
Othello tells Desdemona the story about how he got his handkerchief and the meaning behind it. He says that an Egyptian witch gave it to his mother and if his mother were to ever lose the handkerchief or give it away, her husband would start hating her and look for another woman. When Othello’s mother was dying she gave him the handkerchief and told him to give it to his wife when he got married. This is foreshadowing what will happen to Desdemona and Othello because Othello received the handkerchief from his mother and gave it to Desdemona. Since Desdemona lost the handkerchief Othello gave to her he will ultimately end up detesting her. At the end of his speech to her he tells Desdemona that she should treat the handkerchief as something precious because if she were to lose it or give it away it would be a loss like no other. The handkerchief is an important symbol because it represents Othello’s heritage and what will happen to the relationship if she were to lose the handkerchief. Since Cassio has the handkerchief in his possession it represents Desdemona’s unfaithfulness.
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