The Handkerchief and It's Journey
We start our journey in eygpt where a character whom could almost read the thoughts of others held a magical handkerchief.
She told her, while she kept it,
'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. She dying gave it to me,
And bid me when my fate would have me wive,
To give it her. (3.4.54-61)
The strawberry embroidered handkerchief made its way into Desdemona's life by being the first gift ever given by Othello.
When Othello has a headache Desdemona trys to give him her handkerchief to wrap around his head.
Your napkin is to little,
(he puts the handkerchief away from him, and she drops it.)
Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you.
I am glad I have found this napkin,
This was her first remembrance from the Moor.
My wayward husband hath a hundred times
Woo'd me to steal it, but she so loves the token,
For he conjured her she should ever keep it,
That she reserves it evermore about her
To kiss and talk to. (3.3. 292-298)
As the handkerchief has found its way in to the life of a miserable old wife it wont be there for long, for her husband has other plans.
After Emilia's fun of taunting her husband with the grace of the desired handkerchief, the journey takes a turn down a dark road with a plan that ends in tragedy.
I have use for it. Go, leave me.
I will in Cassio’s lodging lose this napkin
And let him find it. Trifles light as air
Are to the jealous confirmations strong
As proofs of holy writ. This may do something.
The Moor already changes with my poison:
Dangerous conceits are in their natures poisons,
Which at the first are scarce found to distaste
But, with a little act upon the blood,
Burn like the mines of sulphur. I did say so.
(3.3. 321-330)
To set the trap Iago must make the Moor believe Cassio has the handkerchief and Desdemona is infact cheating on him.
I know not that; but such a handkerchief -
I am sure it was your wife's - did I today
See Cassio wipe his beard with.
(3.3. 438-440)
After being told by Iago, Othello demands proof that his love Desdemona is infact cheating on him with cassio.
Give me a living reason she’s disloyal.
(3.3. 410)
The handkerchief has now fallen into the possession of Cassio.
Yet he does not know where it came from.
Cassio how ever likes the embroidering on the handkerchief, he gives it to his whore Bianca to copy the print.
Pardon me, Bianca,
I have this while with leaden thoughts been pressed,
But I shall, in a more continuate time,
Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca,
Take me this work out. (3.4. 171-175)
The handkerchief has fallen in to the hands of the town whore but wont be there for long, the whore has fallen in love and does not want the gift of another women.
Let the devil and his dam haunt you! What did you mean by that same handkerchief you gave me even now? I was a fine fool to take it. I must take out the work? A likely piece of work, that you should find it in your chamber, and not know who left it there! This is some minx’s token, and I must take out the work? There, give it your hobby-horse. Wheresoever you had it, I’ll take out no work on ’t. (4.1. 146-153)
othello however did not forget about the beloved handkerchief he wanted his own form of proof, he went to a sure sorce and demanded his wife give him his gift.
Fetch me the handkerchief. My mind misgives. (3.4. 85)
She does not have the handkerchief though, and can not prove she hasn't lost it. This leaves Othello with no trust in his wife.
Although we no longer see the beautiful handkerchief it still carrys itself through out the story. It's the reason for Othello killing Desdemona, The reason Emilia tells the truth of her husbands plan, and the reason Iago kills his honest wife.
We now know Iago is the one to blame for all the pain, not the handkerchief. But where does it go?
Does cassio pick it up after Bianca's anger?
Or does Iago take it as a keepsake for the beautiful tragedy he has painted?
The journey ends for now the handkerchief is left on the ground; cold, alone, and away from the love and kisses of its true owner Desdemona. No longer loved until a new victim comes along to be sucked into its beautiful power of changing who you are.
Desdemona fell in love with the gift from othello, she would bring it with her where ever she went. many saw her speaking and kissing the handkerchief.