Milton Friedman`s essay and DesJardins and McCall`s (DM`s) response

Othello and Cassio

Desdemona 's Handkerchief

Othello 's first gift to Desdemona was a handkerchief . This supposedly trivial object later becomes the piece of evidence that Iago uses to destroy Othello 's marriage

One evening , as Desdemona and Emilia inform Othello that dinner is ready , Othello complains of a headache . Desdemona promptly offers her handkerchief to bind his head to relieve the pain . Othello comments that the handkerchief is too small and pushes it away . Desdemona unknowingly loses grip of the handkerchief as she and Othello walk out of the room

br Emilia picks up the handkerchief , remembering that Iago had asked her a number of times to steal it , she is delighted at the prospect of surprising her husband

At the same time as Iago was to plant Desdemona 's handkerchief in Cassio 's room , Othello who discovers his plot is infuriated and exclaims that he 'd rather witness deception first hand than assume infidelity without conclusive evidence . At this point , Iago , ever the manipulator manages to get his way again by fabricating another story that Cassio once called out Desdemona 's name in his sleep and that Cassio acted as if he were kissing Desdemona . Iago reinforced his claim by claiming to have seen Cassio wipe his beard with the handkerchief . This enrages Othello and he vows to seek revenge on Cassio and Desdemona for the alleged infidelity . Once again , Iago succeeds and even manages to get promoted to lieutenant

In the play , Desdemona 's handkerchief is the symbol of faithfulness and later in the play the symbol of truth

Barbary 's Willow ' song

All the speculations around Desdemona 's alleged relationship with Cassio has created a lot of trouble for Othello and Desdemona . Othello has become very unhappy and has begun mistreating Desdemona

One evening after dinner...