Shakespeare's Othello: The Strawberry-spotted Handkerchief

This drama is one of the great tragedy themed plays by William Shakespeare. Othello is a highly esteemed general in the service of Venice. Iago is Othello's ambitious friend. Othello promotes the Michael Cassio to the position of personal lieutenant and Iago is deadly jealous. Iago begins an evil and malicious campaign against the hero. Othello elopes with Desdemona but Iago starts to plot against them. Othello becomes jealous and suspicious of Desdemona. He confides in Iago that he plans to poison Desdemona. Plots and murders ensue and Othello returns to the castle to kill his innocent wife. He eventually smothers her to death. Emilia tells Othello the truth about the scheming Iago. Othello wounds Iago, then kills himself. Iago kills Emilia.
The play's most dramatic symbol is Desdemona's strawberry-spotted handkerchief. The handkerchief is used as the one and only piece of major evidence to prove the infidelity of Othello's wife Desdemona. It has been suggested that Elizabethan painters subscribed to the idea that, since strawberries are red fruits, they epitomize hedonism and carnal desire.