Question

What does Desdemona say when Othello asks for the handkerchief?

1) She refuses to show it to him
2) She says it is not lost
3) She asks him to talk about Cassio
4) She blames Othello for the situation

Answer 1

When Othello asks for the handkerchief, She says it is not lost.

Thw correct option is 2.

Explanation:

In William Shakespeare's play "Othello," when Othello asks Desdemona for the handkerchief (referred to as the "handkerchief scene"), she initially responds by stating that the handkerchief is not lost. Desdemona is unaware of the gravity attached to the handkerchief and is confident that she still possesses it.

However, later in the scene, her failure to produce the handkerchief as proof leads to a series of misunderstandings and further complications within the play's plot.

So, the correct option is 2.

Answer 2

Main Answer:

Desdemona, in response to Othello's inquiry about the handkerchief, asserts that it is not lost. 2) She says it is not lost.

Therefore, the correct answer 2) She says it is not lost.

Step-by-step explanation:

This statement is a pivotal moment in William Shakespeare's play "Othello." The handkerchief symbolizes fidelity and trust in their relationship, and Desdemona's claim that it is not lost serves to exacerbate Othello's growing suspicions and fuel the tragic unfolding of events.

In this critical juncture, Desdemona's seemingly innocuous response intensifies the dramatic tension. Othello, consumed by jealousy and manipulated by Iago's deceit, sees the handkerchief as irrefutable evidence of Desdemona's infidelity. Desdemona's assurance that the item is still in her possession unwittingly plays into the web of deception woven by Iago, further deepening Othello's misguided convictions.

This moment encapsulates the tragic irony of the play, as Desdemona's genuine innocence is overshadowed by Othello's unfounded suspicions. The handkerchief becomes a tragic motif, representing the unraveling of trust and the tragic consequences of jealousy.

Therefore, the correct answer 2) She says it is not lost.