Othello's Dramatic Irony

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In Othello, by William Shakespeare, the author emphasizes through dramatic irony, how an inanimate object doesn't have loyalty to one person and therefore, can incite quarrels over its possession.

In Othello Iago uses Desdemona's misplaced handkerchief as a catalyst for Othello's mistrust of her. Iago states,”I know not that; but such a handkerchief—/ I am sure it was your wife’s—did I to-day/ See Cassio wipe his beard with.”(III.iii.437-439) Iago provokes Othello by claiming that his wife gave Cassio her handkerchief as a token of her love. This is an example of dramatic irony because as an audience we know that the handkerchief came to be in Cassio's possession because Iago anonymously gave it to him. This fuels the flames of Othello's anger

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