Do you think that the handkerchief that Othello gave to Desdemona as a gift could represent her sexual purity to him? If so, do you think that when Othello is convinced that she gave her handkerchief away, he, in some way, treats this as a sign of her giving her body away? Has Othello persuaded himself that Desdemona has lost her pureness? What is your response to the manner in which Othello treats his WIFE when he believes his wife is unfaithful? Given that Iago is scheming against him, can you see Othello in any way being justified in his thoughts or actions towards her?
Yes, I believe that by accepting the handkerchief from Othello that Desdemona was in a way making a promise to him. I'm not quite sure what that promise to him is, but it can be looked at as "saving" herself for him. Once Othello sees that Desdemona has supposedly given her handkerchief away, it puts a lot of suspicions and assumptions into his thoughts. I'm sure the first thing he thought when he saw this was that her promise to him meant nothing now if she could so easily give the handkerchief away. Since the handkerchief may have represented her sexual purity to Othello, giving it away shows that she may be cheating. Othello has a lot of good proof because of Iago but, he does not have hard proof. It cannot be said that she is absolutley cheating but Othello believes one-hundred percent that she is at this moment. When talking to Iago, he says that he is ready to commit suicide or murder. He is ready for both Cassio and Desdemona to be dead. I believe that Othello's action of knocking the handkerchief away from his head when Desdemona tried to put it on him is perfectly natural. He has suspicions of her infidelity and it is hard to disregard them. He is uncertain of her infidelity at the time of this action but he cannot stop thinking about it. Iago has given good false evidence to Othello. He has told lies of Cassio "sleep-talking" of Desdemona and claiming that she gave her handkerchief to Cassio. None of these claims are true but Othello cannot logically think when he hears and sees such good evidence. I believe he can be justified in his thoughts and actions. His thougts are perfectly natural when he is told something that is so believable. Plus, Iago's statement about how Desdemona lied to her father to marry Othello proves that maybe she isn't as loyal as Othello thought.
I think that at first, the handkerchief given to Desdemona was a token of Othello's love and the loyalty that they both share. However, after Iago got into Othello's ear about Desdemona and Cassio, I think he viewed the handkerchief differently. Once he heard that Cassio had the handkerchief he gave to Desdemona, he snapped. He was filled with rage towards both Desdemona and Cassio. He did see it as a symbol of Desdemona having an affair with Cassio and giving herself to him. Othello is already convinced that Desdemona has cheated on him and there is no changing his mind. He gets so angry that he orders Iago to go kill Cassio and he is going to try to find a way to kill his wife too. I was shocked by the way Othello viewed his wife after Iago spoke to him. He still tried to treat her the same, but on the inside was cursing her. He eventually started yelling at her about how some people give their hands away and not their hearts, etc. He didn't really have any proof of an affair, other than the handkerchief, and yet still trusted Iago more than Desdemona. Iago filled Othello's head with thoughts of Desdemona's infidelity and they begin to haunt him. Iago also tries to convince Othello that Desdemona is a liar. He brings up the fact that Desdemona lied to her father about being in love with Othello. I can understand how Othello would be suspicious of his wife after hearing what Iago had to say, but I do not think he is justified for his thoughts towards Desdemona or Cassio. I think Othello overreacted.
3 comments:
Do you think that the handkerchief that Othello gave to Desdemona as a gift could represent her sexual purity to him? If so, do you think that when Othello is convinced that she gave her handkerchief away, he, in some way, treats this as a sign of her giving her body away? Has Othello persuaded himself that Desdemona has lost her pureness? What is your response to the manner in which Othello treats his WIFE when he believes his wife is unfaithful? Given that Iago is scheming against him, can you see Othello in any way being justified in his thoughts or actions towards her?
Yes, I believe that by accepting the handkerchief from Othello that Desdemona was in a way making a promise to him. I'm not quite sure what that promise to him is, but it can be looked at as "saving" herself for him. Once Othello sees that Desdemona has supposedly given her handkerchief away, it puts a lot of suspicions and assumptions into his thoughts. I'm sure the first thing he thought when he saw this was that her promise to him meant nothing now if she could so easily give the handkerchief away. Since the handkerchief may have represented her sexual purity to Othello, giving it away shows that she may be cheating. Othello has a lot of good proof because of Iago but, he does not have hard proof. It cannot be said that she is absolutley cheating but Othello believes one-hundred percent that she is at this moment. When talking to Iago, he says that he is ready to commit suicide or murder. He is ready for both Cassio and Desdemona to be dead. I believe that Othello's action of knocking the handkerchief away from his head when Desdemona tried to put it on him is perfectly natural. He has suspicions of her infidelity and it is hard to disregard them. He is uncertain of her infidelity at the time of this action but he cannot stop thinking about it. Iago has given good false evidence to Othello. He has told lies of Cassio "sleep-talking" of Desdemona and claiming that she gave her handkerchief to Cassio. None of these claims are true but Othello cannot logically think when he hears and sees such good evidence. I believe he can be justified in his thoughts and actions. His thougts are perfectly natural when he is told something that is so believable. Plus, Iago's statement about how Desdemona lied to her father to marry Othello proves that maybe she isn't as loyal as Othello thought.
I think that at first, the handkerchief given to Desdemona was a token of Othello's love and the loyalty that they both share. However, after Iago got into Othello's ear about Desdemona and Cassio, I think he viewed the handkerchief differently. Once he heard that Cassio had the handkerchief he gave to Desdemona, he snapped. He was filled with rage towards both Desdemona and Cassio. He did see it as a symbol of Desdemona having an affair with Cassio and giving herself to him. Othello is already convinced that Desdemona has cheated on him and there is no changing his mind. He gets so angry that he orders Iago to go kill Cassio and he is going to try to find a way to kill his wife too. I was shocked by the way Othello viewed his wife after Iago spoke to him. He still tried to treat her the same, but on the inside was cursing her. He eventually started yelling at her about how some people give their hands away and not their hearts, etc. He didn't really have any proof of an affair, other than the handkerchief, and yet still trusted Iago more than Desdemona. Iago filled Othello's head with thoughts of Desdemona's infidelity and they begin to haunt him. Iago also tries to convince Othello that Desdemona is a liar. He brings up the fact that Desdemona lied to her father about being in love with Othello. I can understand how Othello would be suspicious of his wife after hearing what Iago had to say, but I do not think he is justified for his thoughts towards Desdemona or Cassio. I think Othello overreacted.
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