The Handkerchief is a story of a family that is torn apart by the mother's absence. The family was well before the mother's sister had become ill. She had no choice but to go because the sister had no one else to take care of her. The husband did not like the idea, but she said, "It's always like this. I"ve devoted eighteen years to you-without complaint, without demands. I"m not made out of stone. I have feelings too." As she speaks, she shows the reader their relationship was already becoming bitter. This was a doorway for her to leave even though she had children, she was not content. The mother was looking for happiness.
When the mother arrived at the train station she had told the children that she would be back in one month. Before she had left she gave Benji, one of her sons a handkerchief to wipe away his tears. He loved the handkerchief because it had his mother's scent, and he could feel her in the presence. The one month arrived and she still did not arrive. Mary the eldest was taking care of the house and making sure she was getting the job done right. She had dinner everyday at five thirty and the house would be cleaner than ever. George who was older than Benji would just follow the directions of what Mary would tell him. Out of the three children Benji was the most affected by the mother's absence. He was hurting and angry that his mother was not there. When the father was reading the letter to the children to let them know that the mother was not going to be coming back for awhile he was depressed and just kept to himself. The family was falling apart.
With mama not being around and living her life it seems she does not miss her family. In her letters she just compliments Mary on how she is so responsible. She did not mention to her family how much she missed them and so forth. During this time Benji's handkerchief was changing. The smell was starting to evaporate and his world was changing.
If This Handkerchief Could Talk... ... To Othello, the handkerchief has magical powers. ... The handkerchief's pattern is foreshadowing Desdemona's fate. ... Just as Iago used the handkerchief as the only physical evidence against Desdemona, the handkerchief now becomes the only physical evidence against Iago. ... The handkerchief, once Iago's tool for trickery, is now the evidence against him. ...
Othello gave his wife a handkerchief, which belonged to his mother, as a wedding gift. ... Iago's next move was to plant the handkerchief in Cassio's bedroom to make it look like Desdemona was having an affair with him. ... This is an example of how the handkerchief undoes Othello. On the other side Emila tells about how she gave the handkerchief to Iago, and the truth starts to unravel. ... All of this is a result of the journey of the handkerchief. ...
This nervousness leads her to lie about the handkerchief whereabouts. ... Iago also knows that, for Othello, the handkerchief symbolizes Desdemona's fidelity. ... -- Confess -- handkerchief! ... Losing her handkerchief has caused turmoil in distress in Desdemona's life. ... The handkerchief and Desdemona remain pure and unchanged, only Othello's perception of them changes. ...
Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia? ... The missing handkerchief is a large component which leads to both of their deaths. ... What will you give me now For that same handkerchief? ... What handkerchief" EMIL. What handkerchief! ...
Digging deeper into the play, the major conflict is starting by Desdemona's handkerchief. ... In this case, the handkerchief is the evidence. ... Emilia perceives herself as the passive recipient of the handkerchief, without clearly position herself involving in the misdemeanor. ... Although Emilia is ware of the significance of the handkerchief to Desdemona, she still deliberately displaces it. ... Emilia, hopes her steal of handkerchief would turn in good result of Iago's appreciation once. ...
Emilia sees the handkerchief on the floor and stills it for Lago remembering him mentioning how bad he wanted it in the past. Lago plants the handkerchief in Cassio's room as "evidence" that Desdemona was cheating on Othello. ... Lago mentions that he has seen Cassio wipe his face with Desdemona's handkerchief and show him the handkerchief in Cassio's room. ... Later comes out wondering about the mysterious handkerchief that he just found in his room he sees Bianca a friend of Desdemona's and asks her to take the handkerchief and copy the embroidery for him. .....
As Iago plots to plant the handkerchief in Cassio's room. ... Desdemona wonders to Emilia where her handkerchief might be. ... He then asks her to lend him her handkerchief. When Desdemona cannot produce the handkerchief he wants to see, Othello explains the handkerchief's history. ... He asks her to copy the embroidery of a handkerchief he recently found in his room onto another handkerchief. ...
A further aspect of Othello's lack of trust of his wife relates to the handkerchief that he gave his wife. The handkerchief symbolises Desdemona's love and when it is lost Othello believes that Desdemona gave the handkerchief to Cassio and thinks she is in love with Cassio (due to Iago's manipulation), "Fetch me the handkerchief. ...
