Designed for D. Mitchell's English A1 HL International Baccalaureate class at Socastee High School, this blog offers students key information, blog questions, assignments, and homework related to Part IV and Oral/Written Commentaries. Useful and fun links, as well as other resources, will also be included as time permits.
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The “green-eyed monster” symbolizes jealousy which is a main conflict in Othello. Iago warns Othello of “jealousy; [because] it is the green-eyed monster” (III. iii). Shakespeare uses this as a metaphor as well as kinesthetic imagery to further steer the reader’s thought process in the direction of the intended interpretation. He uses the green-eyed monster because green is a motif representing jealousy. “Jealous[y] [i]t is a monster” (III. iv) is repeated significantly it appears again in the act following where it was introduced. Shakespeare repeats that jealousy is metaphorically referred to as a monster to make the reader understand that jealousy is a problem. The personification of the jealousy monster also indicates that there is a specific person that will begin to act upon this title. The reader now understands that the repetition foreshadows events to come later on in the novel caused by the green-eyed monster known as “jealousy”.
ReplyDeleteIn Shakespeare’s Othello the theme of jealousy conquering all plays a main role throughout the play. Through the use of symbolism Shakespeare reveals this theme. As Iago’s plan begins to unravel Desdemona’s world does as well. On the night of Desdemona’s death she sings a song called Willow which did “express’d her fortune” (291). The song commonly refers to “a green willow” (291) which symbolizes the death that is accompanied by envy, which reveals the fate of Desdemona. The willow tree symbolizes somberness and grief due to its weeping appearance, and the color green refers to envy, the two together foreshadow Desdemona’s demise. The repetition of the phrase emphasizes once again the theme of jealously. The phrase “sing all” (291) is commonly seen as well enforcing the idea that not only will envy effect Desdemona but everyone that comes into contact with the sin. The use of the word “all” rather than just the word sing stresses the idea that most of everyone can sing the song of envy and its effects. The symbolism within the song foreshadows events to come as well as revealing the theme of jealousy dominating all.
ReplyDeleteAn obvious but vital symbol in the play is the Handkerchief. Given to Othello’s mother by an Egyptian charmer, “while she kept it ‘T would make her amiable and subdue my father” (272) therefore as long as she had the handkerchief she would remain loyal and loving of the protagonist’s father leading to the handkerchief being symbolic of love and fidelity. The first gift given to Desdemona by Othello, the handkerchief then becomes symbolic of her love towards Othello and her fidelity. As long as it is in her possession, she is in Othello’s. Upon viewing Bianca in possession of the treasured handkerchief, Othello becomes enraged believing Desdemona “she gave it him, and he hath given it his whore”(281) however the audience knows that in actuality it was planted on Cassio. Seeing the handkerchief in someone else’s hands is the same as seeing Desdemona along with her loyalty and chastity in someone else’s hands. The strawberry pattern dyed in maiden’s blood symbolizes blood on the sheets or virginity leading to the losing of the handkerchief parallels to the losing of her virginity. The handkerchief symbol appears at the climax and main conflict of the play and therefore it holds a significant role in the novel. Why a handkerchief? A handkerchief starts out pure and white however can be easily dirtied just as Desdemona appears to be dirtied by Cassio. The Handkerchief is not only a symbol of love, loyalty and chastity but a symbol of Desdemona herself and with the loss of the handkerchief Othello lost Desdemona.
ReplyDeleteAs the first gift Othello presents to Desdemona, the handkerchief symbolizes the foundation of their love; however her loss of the handkerchief reveals the loss of mutual faith in the relationship between Desdemona and Othello. Under Iago’s scheming, he leads the protagonist, Othello, to believe that his wife’s handkerchief, “spotted with strawberries” (269), lies in the hands of her supposed lover, Cassio. The word spotted, as opposed to embroidered, connotes a sullying mark, which parallels the sullying of Desdemona’s reputation as a result of Iago’s scheme. Strawberries symbolize purity, the characteristic which Othello doubts Desdemona still possesses, and with the strawberry handkerchief lost, Othello perceives Desdemona as tarnished as opposed to virtuous. “When fate would have (him) wive” (272) Othello offers the handkerchief to the future bride in question, Desdemona; due to the mystical properties of the handkerchief, the misplacement of the token outstandingly offends Othello. Implications of fate attached to the handkerchief allude to the Three Fates of Greek Mythology, who spin the threads of mortals’ lives, but also determine the length and outcome of their days. The handkerchief weaves together the life threads of Othello and Desdemona’s lives; however with the handkerchief misplaced, the two no longer protect its safety, leaving the token vulnerable for Iago to unravel. He successfully separates the two from one another, allowing mistrust to settle in the absence of the handkerchief and resigning Othello to loathe Desdemona and cut her life short. Because Desdemona never “made gift of” (272) the handkerchief, the grounds for mistrust never truly existed; yet, due to the absence of the handkerchief proof of innocence vanished and Othello lost faith in his wife.
ReplyDelete-Alexis
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ReplyDeleteThe Handkerchief is a revolving symbol throughout the play. Desdemona received the handkerchief from Othello, which makes the tangible item a symbol of their love. Iago takes the handkerchief from his wife and “in Cassio’s lodging lose[s] [the] napkin” (69). He knows the significance of the handkerchief and believes that Othello would be angered by the fact that Desdemona has lost it, especially if found in another man’s lodging. The handkerchief also represents Desdemona's loyalty to Othello and if found in Cassio’s room, Iago knows that Othello will suspect Desdemona as being unfaithful. Othello reveals that the handkerchief was “dyed in mummy which the skillful conserved of maidens’ hearts” (77). The handkerchief was made from maidens’ hearts, representing love and purity. Othello gave Desdemona the handkerchief out of love, but he also believes that with the handkerchief she is pure, but without it she can become unfaithful. Othello’s jealous nature is revealed through the handkerchief because he believes a small tangible item can stand for such a metaphysical intimacy, such as love. To Othello the handkerchief represents a metaphorical leash, that allows him to keep Desdemona from committing a lustful sin.
ReplyDeleteThe primary symbol in Shakespeare’s tragic play Othello is the handkerchief. However, its symbolism is interpreted in different ways by different people. Othello feels it represents the love and fidelity between man and wife. Iago, on the other hand, knows this but seeks to manipulate Othello’s jealousy for Desdemona lamenting, “Are to the jealous confirmations strong” (266). The Moor’s trust for Iago and insecurity regarding his wife, force him to see the handkerchief more so as a symbol of chastity than a harmless token of affection. Once Iago is in possession of it, he is able to give evidence of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness, although the reader knows this to be false. He repeatedly makes insinuations regarding Desdemona’s infidelity saying, “We say lie on her, when they belie her. Lie with her” (277). The significance of the cloth is a result of Othello’s heritage; it is a very old, skillfully made heirloom with “magic in the web of it” (272) that his mother had said kept her husband faithful to her. Thus, the alleged affair between Cassio and his wife all the more fuel his fire of hate and jealousy when he hears Cassio is the owner of the beloved artifact. This madness stirs Othello profoundly leading him to have seizures and ultimately to kill his wife and commit suicide. Paradoxically, Othello’s love for Desdemona drives him to kill her; his jealousy is a byproduct of his overt passion for her. The symbol allows the audience to better recognize Othello’s tragic flaws and understand the history behind them.
ReplyDelete-Matt
Shakespeare uses the handkerchief to symbolize marriage fidelity and infidelity. Othello gave his Desdemona the handkerchief as a gift. This gift symbolized the Othello’s love for Desdemona. Over time Iago makes Othello see the handkerchief as a symbol of Desdemona’s faith and fidelity. She kept it with her at all times which suggest the importance of Othello’s love for her. When Desdemona loses the handkerchief Othello describes her action as“perdition” (III.iv.) or resulting in a punishment in hell. Othello proves the handkerchief is a symbol of marriage fidelity when Othello tells Desdemona that his mother used the handkerchief to “subdue [his] father entirely to her love” (III.iv.) However, Iago obtains the lost handkerchief and uses it to prove Desdemona’s infidelity. Shakespeare used the handkerchief to symbolize different meanings to multiple characters.
ReplyDelete-Jon Morgan
Shakespeare uses symbolism throughout Othello to represent the tragedy of the fate of the characters relationships. None is more potent than the song “Willow” (291-292). The song as a whole represents both Desdemona’s and Emilia’s futures at the hands of their husbands. Desdemona states that the song was originally sung by a woman who was murdered by her husband who had gone mad and “she died singing it” The willow is the chief symbol in the song and represents sadness and mourning. Desdemona and Emilia sing the song shortly before being killed by their husbands, mourning the fate of their marriages. Willows also often strangle and kill any trees around them, just as Othello’s jealousy kills those people around him he cares about. The green in, “sing all a green willow” symbolizes Othello’s jealousy as in “the green eyed monster of jealousy” (262). The song also displays a resignation on the part of Desdemona as she sings “the poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree.” The sycamore tree often represents protection because its wood was once considered one of the strongest woods. The character sits sighing while contemplating her dreadful position, there is no protection left. Also, the garland in the line “all a green willow must be my garland” symbolizes her honor. A garland is a pleasant adornment, often a symbol of victory or honor. Othello’s doubts about her honor trigger his jealousy, leading to his murder of Desdemona.
ReplyDelete- Stephanie
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ReplyDeleteShakespeare refers to eyes multiple times throughout the play, which acts as a symbol. It is said that eyes are the windows to people’s souls, and truth has to be seen with eyes. Honesty and the proof of facts with the bare eye is key to this play. When Iago sparks his initial trap of telling Othello his thoughts about Cassio and Desdemona, Othello immediately wants to witness proof so he too can believe it. Iago states, “damn them then [i]f ever mortal eyes do see them bolster”(III.iii) referring to if anyone shall see them together then damn the both of them. As the plot progresses, Desdemona is set up to loose the handkerchief and Othello believes it is because she was with Cassio. Othello then claims he “saw [his] handkerchief in’s hand” (V.ii) and he automatically believes it is the truth and declares “[l]et me see your eyes; [l]ook in my face”(IV.i) because Othello thinks he knows that the eyes tell it all. Shakespeare uses eyes because they are the key to finding truth. Thus, the eyes symbolize truth and reassurance within this play.
ReplyDelete-Caitiln
Honesty is a prominent symbol in the play that has many different meanings. Shakespeare uses honesty in an ironic way so that the reader can truly see the deceit that the characters do not. In the play, honesty does not only refer to telling the truth, but also to a woman’s faithfulness and to the loyalty and devotion of a friend.
ReplyDelete-Julia
Through Iago, one can understand two of the three different interpretations of honesty in the play. “Oh brave Iago, honest and just”- a statement spoken by Othello in Act V, Scene I- reveals that Othello believes Iago to be a truthful man. At this point, Othello fully believes that Iago was telling the truth about Desdemona’s infidelity with Cassio. Speaking about Iago, Cassio states that “[he] never knew a Florentine more kind and honest” (Act III, Scene I). Here, “honest” is used in the context of being a good and loving friend. Cassio believes that Iago is trying to help him regain a reputation and position with Othello while in reality, he is doing the opposite. In these two instances, the symbol of honesty is employed as dramatic irony. Othello states in Act III, Scene III that “[he does] not think but Desdemona’s honest”, meaning that he believes Desdemona has been faithful to him. As Othello’s trust in Iago’s honesty grows, his trust in Desdemona’s honesty diminishes. Shakespeare uses the triple meaning of the symbol of honesty to reveal how in the play there are many different versions of the truth.