The Life of Desdemona

I am madly in love with a young gentleman. Just seeing him brings butterflies to my stomach and a smile to my face. He has a beautiful heart and cares deeply about everything in life. People might frown upon our love because of our races, but if you spend time around us it is evident that we love each other greatly. The man I have been secretly talking about is Othello. He is a Moorish general in the Venetian army.

            I should also tell you about Roderigo, a man that is madly in love with me. I, on the other hand, have never been interested in him. He despises the fact that Othello and I have married because he wanted my hand. I have shown no interest in his flirtation strategies, but he of course never quits. Iago, who is a friend to Othello and Roderigo, seems like a slimy fellow.  I do not trust him, but Othello tells me not to worry because he is a noble and trustworthy person.

            Othello and I have been hiding a secret from every one especially my father, Barbantio. I have not found the right time to tell my father that Othello and I eloped. We had kept this a secret until my father was awakened with the news. It happened in the middle of the night, after I had snuck out to visit my husband.  Roderigo and Iago awakened my father to tell him the news. He did not believe these crazy men, and sent a maid to fetch me.  I was not in my room. My father sent everyone out to look for me and finally I was brought back to the palace with my husband.  My father thought I had been corrupted by spells and medicines and would not believe that I was truly in love. After Othello talked to my father and told him the story of how our love came about, my father still did not except the fact that I was in love.  I finally told my father that I was in love with Othello and that my duty was now towards him like my mother’s duty was towards my father.