Salim

Students Name: Maria Salim

Due Date: 11/22/10

Eng 2301

Professor: Harned

Fall 2010

An Interpretation of Othello

In Othello written by William Shakespeare, Iago planted the seed of jealousy in

Othello’s mind and Othello took Iago by the throat and asked for the ocular proof of

Desdemona’s disloyalty. Iago does not satisfied Othello’s mind by giving the handkerchief as an

ocular proof of Desdemona’s infidelity. Iago’s unproven “proves” of infidelity of the

Desdemona, planted a seed of jealousy in Othello, which led him to believe in everything related

to Cassio and Desdemona as sexual interaction. Othello believed Iago and killed his loving wife

without investigating himself. Othello trusted Iago for everything and concluded his wife as a

whore.

Iago told Othello that he lay with Cassio and came to know that Cassio and Desdemona

were in love. It is stated in Othello that Iago said, “In sleep I heard him say, Sweet Desdemona,

let us be wary, let us hide our loves; He gripe and wing my hand; Cry, then kiss me hard”. (Pg

168) Iago told Othello that it was a dream but to Othello it represented something that had

already happened. Iago gave Othello the reason to be jealous and may help reinforce other proofs

that only weakly indicate Cassio’s and Desdemona’s guilt.

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Iago proves “unproven” infidelity of Desdemona by telling Othello that he saw the

handkerchief in Cassio’s hand which Othello gave to Desdemona as a first gift. It is stated in

Othello that Iago said, “I know not that, but such a handkerchief (I am sure it was your wive’s)

did I to-day See Cassio wipe his beard with”. (Pg 170) Othello believed Iago without

investigating himself. He trusted Iago’s false story and concluded Desdemona as a whore.

Othello was fully jealous and decided to kill Desdemona and Cassio. When he went

to see Desdemona he asked for the handkerchief. Desdemona unfortunately lost the handkerchief

and did not pluck that seed of jealous from Othello’s mind. Othello got a reason to believe

Desdemona’s martial disloyalty. Othello was hurt badly by the loss of handkerchief. While he

was asking for the handkerchief Desdemona asked for Cassio which he didn’t like. In Othello,

Desdemona said, “You’ll never meet a more sufficient man”. Othello said,”Fetch me the

handkerchief, my mind misgives”. But Desdemona was kept on asking for Cassio’s help. She

said, “I pray talk me of Cassio”. (Pg 180) Desdemona’s concerned about Cassio made it more

believable for Othello to conclude Desdemona disloyal. Othello seed of jealous grew up by

watching Desdemona’s concerned towards Cassio.

Othello believed that Desdemona loves her no more because she has lost her first gift

given by him. She is betraying him by having sexual relationship with Cassio. The reason for

Othello’s jealousy was himself. He was black and old whereas Desdemona and Cassio were

white and young. His reason of jealousy got strong and he told Desdemona that the lost of

handkerchief had weaken their relationship. Desdemona was surprised to know that. It is stated

in Othello that Othello said, “That handkerchief Did an Egyptian to my mother give; 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
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hunt After new fancies. She, dying, gave it to me, And bid me, when my fate would have me

wiv’d, To give it her.”(Pg 178) Othello told Desdemona that handkerchief had magical powers

to keep husband and wife together and it’s lost caused their separation. Desdemona was

shocked to know and asked Othello how it can be possible. But Othello declared the breakup of

their relationship and left the room.

It was Othello’s lie about the magical powers of the handkerchief because in the

beginning of the story he denied of believing in magical powers. In the beginning of the story

Desdemona’s father Brabantio accused Othello of using witchcrafts on his daughter for marrying

her. It is stated in Othello that Brabantio said, “She is abus’d, stol’n from me, and corrupted By

spells and medicines bought of mountebanks; For nature so prepost’rously to err (Being not

deficient, blind, or lame of sense) Sans witchcraft could not”. (Pg 50) Othello proved himself

innocent by telling Desdemona’s affection towards him as described in ‘Othello’, “She lov’d me

for the dangers I had pass’d, And I lov’d her that she did pity them”. (Pg 58) But Brabantio did

not believe Othello and told Duke that, “I therefore vouch again That with some mixture

pow’rful o’er the blood, Or with some dream (conjur’d to this effect) he wrought upon her”.

(Pg 54) Duke did not declare Othello wrong. Duke said, “Without more wider and more [overt]

test Than these thin habits and poor likelihoods Of modern seeming do prefer against him” (Pg

54) In fact he asked for an ocular proof and Othello requested for Desdemona’s presence which

was accepted by Duke. Othello said, “ Send for the lady to the Sagittary, And let her speak of me

before her father Desdemona was called and asked for the truth. Desdemona said, “I am mithto

your daughter. But here’s my husband”.

(Pg 58)
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Othello got freedom by the proper investigation and ocular proofs considered by Duke.

But Othello did not investigate and get the ocular proofs to conclude Desdemona infidelity

before killing her. Desdemona tried to tell the truth to Othello but he did not listen to her. He

declared her punishment without listening her. It is stated in Othello that Desdemona said, “Send

for the man, and ask him”. (Pg 262) But Othello did not call for Cassio. Othello said, “That

handkerchief which I so lov’d, and gave thee, Thou gav’st to Cassio” (Pg 262) It is Othello’s

jealousy and double standards which gave Desdemona the young death. Othello did not listen to

Desdemona and call any one to get Cassio for the truth. He believed in the unproven proves

given by Iago and murdered his loving wife.

Now, the double standard of Othello emerges as and become the leading cause of

Desdemona’s death. In the beginning Othello refuses to believe in witchcrafts, when Brabanito

accused Othello of using magical powers to mild Desdemona towards him. Whereas, later on the

seed of jealousy made him to take the support of believes in which he never believed.

In general, Othello was fully jealous of his wife’s betrayal. He was not satisfied by

the ocular proof of Desdemona’s infidelity but the thought of her betrayal made him furious and

he committed her murder.

Work Cited

Holste, Gayle. Othello. Barrons, 2002. Print.

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