Othello Act IV Symbolism and Minor Characters

In Act IV of Shakespeare’s Othello, the significance of minor characters and symbolism is revealed in the discussion that is conducted between Bianca and Cassio regarding the handkerchief. The conversation begins as Bianca confronts Cassio for asking her to copy the pattern on the handkerchief he found in his room. Although Cassio promises that he has no idea who the handkerchief belongs to, but that he simply happened to find it in his room, Bianca convinces herself that it is a handkerchief given to him by another woman. Believing that her relationship with Cassio is much more serious than Cassio views it, she is greatly offended that he would ask her to copy the pattern of a handkerchief belonging to another mistress of his. However, it is during this conversation that Othello is spying on Cassio and Iago, and, when he sees Bianca wielding the handkerchief which he gave to Desdemona, he receives the “ocular proof” of Desdemona’s infidelity that he worried about for quite some time. Othello blindly accepts the lies which Iago has been feeding him when Iago declares, “Did you see the handkerchief… Yours, by his hand. And to see how he prizes the foolish woman your wife? She gave it him, and he hath given it his whore” (Shakespeare, Act IV, i, 162-165). This scene therefore reveals the importance of the symbolism of the handkerchief. Because the handkerchief was the first gift which Othello gave to Desdemona, it is representative of their binding and loyal love to one another; consequently, when Othello believes that Desdemona has betrayed him and given this precious token of love to the man with whom she had an affair, he is heartbroken. Furthermore, believing that Cassio had in turn given this gift to his mistress, Othello became all the more outraged. Had the handkerchief not symbolized his love for Desdemona, then her gift of a mere handkerchief to another man may not have been so offensive to Othello and certainly could not be considered “ocular proof” of an affair between her and another man. However, the symbolism of the handkerchief makes this misconception devastating to Othello purely because of its implications of the love shared between Othello and Desdemona. Because the handkerchief carries such significant meaning, its possession by another man also carries much more significant meaning as well.

Act IV, scene i also reveals the significance of minor characters to the advancement of the plot in Othello. Without the minor character of Bianca, Cassio may never have bothered to ask anyone to copy the pattern of the handkerchief and paid it no attention. However, by giving the handkerchief to Bianca and offending her in the process, Othello observes the passing of his handkerchief from the man he believes to be sleeping with his wife to that man’s mistress, which convinces him to murder Desdemona. Consequently, without the role of Bianca, Othello may never have received his ocular proof of her affair and may never have found the need to murder her.