Othello, the Moor of Venice
William Shakespeare
During scene three of act three, Desdemona offers Othello a handkerchief to use that he had given her. He refuses to use it saying, "Your napkin is too little" (Shakespeare, Act III, iii, 288). After Othello refused the handkerchief, it dropped to the ground and Desdemona left forgetting to pick it up. This handkerchief is a symbol for Othello and Desdemona's love and trust for one another. By forgetting it on the ground, the couple forgets their trust in one another. Also, this shows that their love for one another may be unraveling. This handkerchief also reveals characteristics about Othello's heritage. Othello has maintained a mysterious persona in the play so far, but during this act readers learn more about his heritage when he explains the background of the handkerchief. Unfortunately, this romantic memento causes problems between the newly married couple later on in the act. Othello, suspecting Desdemona of infidelity, asks for the handkerchief, the symbol of their love. When Desdemona cannot immediately give it to him, he becomes irate and leaves furiously. At the end of the act, Cassio is seen giving the handkerchief to Bianca to copy. Replicating the embroidery of the handkerchief would be symbolic for duplicating Desdemona's love, which Othello would view as infidelity.
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