Shakespeare's Othello is a tragedy like no other of its time. Othello is a play more concerned with domestic loyalty than with royal usurpations. This is a play in which the ocular evidence comes from a mystical strawberry handkerchief rather than the ghost of a murdered king. Indeed, Othello presents a matrimonial rather than a national tragedy. The relationship between Othello and Desdemona is at the forefront of the action most of the time. Although the war and issues of national interest serve to advance the plot, they are only the backdrop to the real story concerning the vengeful accusations of marital treason. This poses a problem, because the main character, Othello, seems to be the least capable of successfully handling what turns into a complicated domestic affair. Othello is a warrior and statesman who admittedly doesn't know much else. In fact, it seems that everything he knows about marriage and women comes from a single handkerchief given to him by his mother. He believes that this handkerchief, his first gift to Desdemona, has magical powers. Although Othello, accused of witchcraft to conquer Desdemona, denies the accusation, he comes to place his entire marriage and the question of his wife's fidelity on the bewitching handkerchief. Othello, the novice servant, tragically uses the handkerchief as a touchstone of fidelity and love. Interestingly enough, the spell of the handkerchief, as told by Othello, is intended to keep Othello faithful and thus promote a happy union. This may be Othello's concern when he gives the handkerchief. Othello is a novice and seems more worried about his own performance in marriage than that of Desdemona. The gift he gave her, the magic handkerchief, seems to reflect this concern. The loss of this handkerchief by Desdemona symbolizes for him a loss of love, either magical or real for her. In vain does the naive Othello give the handkerchief with seasonal flowering strawberries, preserved in the embroidery with the liquid of the mummies, in the hope of preserving his marriage; hopes that their love, like strawberries, can bloom forever. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay. Othello is the image of domestic naivety. It seems like he has never been in love or even in the company of women. Having spent his days on battlefields, on adventures, and in captivity since childhood, Othello seems afraid and even reluctant to give up his celibacy. Othello says, "But I love sweet Desdemona/I would not want my condition free without a home/Circumscribed and confined/For the value of the seas." (2.1.25-8). It is only Othello's great love for Desdemona that implores him to embark on a new and uncharted path toward marriage. Although Othello loves Desdemona, we see the instability he must feel in the relationship. Their courtship was based on Desdemona's "eager ear." It seems that Othello courted her not by witchcraft, nor by sweet charms, but simply by her story (Maus 02/06/03). Othello seems unsure of himself in the relationship at first. He says after telling his stories to Desdemona: “I loved her and she pitied them” (1.3.167). Here Othello suggests that his love is based on his pity. It is no wonder that Othello trusts the handkerchief so much both when he gives it to him and especially when Iago arouses his suspicions. Othello believes in the magic of the handkerchief because he cannot believe in himself in the marital situation and knows little about Desdemona and Venetian women in general. Given to Othello by his mother, the handkerchief symbolizes everything he knows about female love and marriage.It also contains a spell that promises to keep Othello in love for as long as Desdemona keeps him. When Othello suspects Desdemona of being unfaithful and loses the handkerchief, his faith and his love for Desdemona inevitably collapse. The loss of the handkerchief, by whatever means, magical or real, causes Othello to turn against Desdemona and lose his love and his weak faith in their marriage. The handkerchief comes with an exciting story. However, Othello neglects to tell the story to Desdemona when he tells it to her. Desdemona is said to have a greedy ear through which she devours her rich tales of adventure. It is also through their storyteller/audience exchange that their relationship is built (Maus 02/06/03). This leads us to wonder why Othello neglects to tell her a most exciting story about the handkerchief he gives her. It seems he didn't tell her anything about his origins until he confronted her about her loss. The slowness with which Desdemona told this story must have been intentional on Othello's part. Othello may have known that he would be accused of witchcraft if he let it be known. After Desdemona's death at the end, Othello changes history in front of the Venetians who had previously accused him of witchcraft. Telling Desdemona this could also lead her to fear him by placing herself in a racial stereotype. However, I think the main reason why Othello didn't tell Desdemona is that by making her aware of the spell, he would have to trust her completely. When he discovers he is lost, his faith and love are irreversibly damaged so he can tell her the truth behind it all. By telling her this story, he lets her know that she has great power over him. Desdemona, with this knowledge and with the handkerchief, has determining power over Othello's love. As the spell says, as long as she is in possession, Desdemona can retain Othello's love unconditionally and indefinitely. Knowing this would give Desdemona infinite power. She could do anything she wanted and, holding the tissue, know that he had no choice but to love her. Othello does not know women and Desdemona well enough to divulge this secret. Only when the handkerchief is lost and with it his love can Othello tell the story. Before Othello discovers that Desdemona has lost the handkerchief, Othello is easily led to distrust her. Professor Maus evaded the fact that Othello is inexperienced, that he only knows the eager ear of Desdemona and that he is foreign to the customs of Venetian women (Maus, 2/6/03). When Iago first slips out to Othello that Desdemona might be cheating, Othello is stunned and later demands immediate proof. Othello implores "Wicked one, be sure to prove that my love is a whore" (3.3.363-64). Othello seems to be fighting fate; he is tortured by his love for Desdemona and the possibility that she will cheat while still retaining the love handkerchief. Othello demands proof so that, if it is true, he can kill her immediately. Othello never speaks of any other punishment for Desdemona than death. Perhaps he believes that as long as she has the handkerchief, he will always love her and therefore the only way to stop the love spell is to kill him. However, for Othello, the spell fails. As Othello wrestles with Desdemona's guilt or innocence and his real or spell-induced love for her, Iago enters the scene with the news of a handkerchief. Iago tells Othello that he saw Cassio wiping his beard with it and Othello replies "If that's it -" (3.3.444). If this is so, Othello cannot love him. For Othello, the handkerchief is proof that she has betrayed him and proof that the spell has been broken. It is important to note that the handkerchief is not.