Handkerchief In Othello

Everyone keeps mementos from adventures or from someone close in their lives. A person that visited Hawaii might bring a Hawaiian t-shirt to remind them of the sunny days on the beach. Another, might keep the infinity necklace her deceased grandma gave her a few years before she died. These objects themselves do not carry any extreme value themselves, but their underlying significance means a great deal to the owners. They stand for the family time spent with their family or the memory of a family member. In the tragedy Othello by Shakespeare the handkerchief originates from when Othello’s mother who gave it to him before dying. Consequently, she told him to give it to his future wife. Later Othello gifts it to Desdemona as their first gift.
After Emilia comes upon the fallen handkerchief, she emphasizes Desdemona’s appreciation for the gift by saying, “I have found this napkin/ This was her first remembrance from the Moor./… she loves the token/ (For he conjured her she should ever keep it)/ That she reserved it evermore about her”[Emilia-III.iii. 334-9]. Emilia’s acknowledgement of Desdemona's care for the token exemplifies about how much she cares about the handkerchief. Although Desdemona sees the handkerchief as her and Othello’s love through the play, other characters approach it
He strengthens his claim of Desdemona’s adultery by demonstrating this as proof. After Emilia hands him the napkin he states, “As proofs of holy writ. This(the handkerchief) may do something./ The Moor already changes with my poison;/ Dangerous conceits are in their natures poisons” (III.iii.372-4). Since Othello already trusts him and refers to him as honest and has already given Othello the doubt, Othello will see the evidence as reality with no doubt. This will help Iago achieve one of his goals of getting Cassio fired and furthering his own