Shakespeare's Grand Handkerchief

In Act 3 Scene 4, Shakespeare attempts to explain the context of the play through the symbolic use of a spotted handkerchief designed with red strawberries. This first suggestion is seen through Othello’s from line 53 – 65, where he states that the handkerchief is symbolic of their love and it is the true magic that ‘subdues’ Othello. The fact that Desdemona has lost such an item, could be implying that the love and connection between the two, is also lost.
Shakespeare has also choosen very carefully to include strawberries on the designs of the handkerchief. In Greek times, strawberries where seen as a symbol for purity and love, due to its vibrant colors and refined taste, Shakespeare’s use of this idea portray Othello’s corrupted belief, of how the handkerchief represent not only Desdemona’s purity but also the love for her. Hence the lost of this simply item,did not imply a lost of an insignificant item but the lost of Desdemona’s innocence and love.
Another interpretation of Shakespeare’s handkerchief, is of Iago’s shallow crude ideas of love. His reference and imagery of love shown in Act 1 Scene 3 line 315 – 329. He refers to love as a scion or graft, a plant that can be grow from the stolen stems of another. This is exactly how strawberries are grown.
Shakespeare further plays with this idea when Emilia steals Desdemona’s handkerchief ,hence stealing her love, in order to satisfy her longing for love, planting that graft in Iago. This imagery of Emilia cutting a scion from Desdemona’s heart and giving it to Iago, elevates Emilia’s simple crime of stealing a mere handkerchief.
The last imagery that Shakespeare choose to use with the handkerchief is the reality of the handkerchief itself. The purpose of the item is to relieve simple irritations and annoyances. It is almost insignificant. Evenso, when such an item is not present to relieve small annoyances, these insignificant issues, grows.