Desdemona was greatly fond of hearing the adventure tales from Othello and even sympathized with him on occasions. This initiated their love relationship and ultimately Othello married Desdemona.
Othello was previously gladly admitted to Brabantio’s house but now he was accused by Brabantio in front of the senate. But Desdemona declared that she had freely and willingly taken Othello as her husband. She affirmed her love for the moor and expressed her desire to live with him. She also sought permission to accompany his husband to Cyprus.
But the marriage of Othello and Desdemona was a union of different races and colours that the world has never approved. So Iago seeking for revenge against both Cassio and Othello found it easy to use Desdemona’s goodness and innocent nature to spoil her.
Desdemona continued to pursue Cassio’s cause even after knowing that it can pose problems. Iago, the shrewd schemer planted the seeds of suspicion in the mind of Othello. Iago cunningly obtained the handkerchief and used it as proof of her faithlessness. In Othello’s life the handkerchief, his first gift to Desdemona is an emblem of their mutual love. When Iago claims that he has found Cassio to use this handkerchief, the loss of the handkerchief becomes symbolic of a loss of trust. For this, Othello accuses Desdemona of infidelity, vows to kill her, and finally stifles her to death. Thus, the same handkerchief which had brought happiness in Othello’s life brings disaster in his life.
In fact, we see both Desdemona and Othello were too innocent to guess the dark designs of Iago. Their love for each other was unwavering but Desdemona was too gentle and innocent and Othello too rash. That is why the story of Othello may be called a doomed romance between Othello and Desdemona.