"The Handkerchief Made Me Do It": An Examination of Othello's Motives.
Ikeolu E. Oladipo
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor

In Othello, the handkerchief represents love, power, and the ocular proof that Othello asks for in order to confirm for himself Desdemona's infidelity. One could say there is no story without this handkerchief. It symbolizes how little objects can be magnified into "proofs" by a jealous mind. My paper will demonstrate the symbolic importance of the handkerchief to the Moor, the how and why it was so effective in his downfall.

Keywords: Othello, Shakespeare, Tragedy, Handkerchief, Desdemona, Ocular proof

Topic(s):English

Presentation Type: Oral Paper

Session: 204-2
Location: MG 1098
Time: 11:15

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