If the handkerchief were lost, the love would go. Othello tells the story of the handkerchief: it is an heirloom in his family, given by an Egyptian witch to his mother as a charm to keep her husband's love. Othello demands her handkerchief, which she cannot produce. But the bond breaks when she mentions Cassio. The bond between them is reestablished, and he calls her by a pet name, chuck. They speak at cross-purposes, Othello claiming her moist hand indicates lust, she suggesting it means youth and innocence, and while making a speech on her need to curb her inclinations, the old happy love suddenly hits him again, and he acknowledges: "'tis a good hand, A frank one." (39). The interview between Othello and Desdemona begins stiffly and formally: "Well, my good lady" (30), and she, taking her cue from him, answers formally. Desdemona is confident, or at least hopeful, that her husband is not jealous, while Emilia suspects that all men are jealous. Desdemona has an underlying worry, the loss of the handkerchief, but Emilia, who does know what happened, does not tell her. The Clown provides some contrasting comic relief, taking words only at face value, and this little diversion covers the plot move where Desdemona sends for Cassio. In particular, it takes a more roundabout look at jealousy. Bianca immediately recognizes it as belonging to a woman and berates Cassio for having another mistress.Ĭoming after the emotional intensity of the previous scene, this scene looks at some of the same themes from different viewpoints. ![]() Othello walks out in fury.Ĭassio gives Bianca Desdemona's handkerchief, which he found in his lodgings (Iago had placed it there) and asks her to make a copy of it for him, as he will have to return the original when he finds the owner. In vain, Desdemona tries to deflect his questions about the handkerchief, speaking again of Cassio. When Othello enters, he claims a headache and asks her for a handkerchief to bind his head, but he will have only the embroidered strawberry handkerchief. Desdemona sends for Cassio to tell him that she has spoken with Othello she is also worried that she has lost her handkerchief.
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