Desdemona

Desdemona

Desdemona is Othello's mate.

History

She was hatched in 938, alongside the rest of her rookery generation, and when she grew up, fell in love with Othello and he with her. But Iago desired her for himself, and tried to trick Othello into believing that Desdemona and Goliath were lovers. Fortunately, Desdemona convinced Othello that she was indeed faithful to him, and peace was restored ("Legion").

Greg Weisman once remarked that Desdemona may have a strong spiritual interest, though she wasn't clergy by definition.

Desdemona and Othello were among the slain in the Wyvern Massacre of 994, but Xanatos and Demona used pieces of her, as well as of Othello and Iago, in creating Coldstone ("Reawakening", "Legion"). Because Coldstone was constructed from the parts of these three gargoyles, all three gargoyle souls were restored within him, and after his raid on the Golden Cup Building, began to vie with one another for control of him. Iago once again tried to convince Othello that Desdemona and Goliath were lovers, but Desdemona was able to prevent it in the end, and they and Goliath defeated Iago in the struggle for control of Coldstone's body ("Legion").

United once more, Othello and Desdemona’s souls were happy together, so happy that Othello decided at first to ignore Iago's schemings when Demona and Macbeth took control of the cybernetic gargoyle's body. However, Desdemona finally convinced him of his duty to the rest of the clan (with a little help from the Weird Sisters), leading to Othello at last deposing Iago from his control of Coldstone's body and thus saving Elisa and the clan from Demona and Macbeth ("High Noon").

Puck and Alex finally re-housed Desdemona's soul in the robotic body of Coldfire, after temporarily placing it in Angela's body during the interim. She now accompanies Coldstone under her new robot name ("Possession").

Othello and Desdemona are the biological parents of Gabriel, although neither of them consider this important or see themselves in such a light, rather seeing themselves as parents to all their rookery children.

Characteristics

Desdemona had tan skin, blond hair, and large curved horns. She had most unusual wings, which seemed to be shaped almost like a butterfly's. When she glided, each wing appeared to emerge from her back in two separate parts.

Real-World Background

The name is borrowed from Shakespeare's Othello, thanks to her role in "Legion" having a strong echo of the original Desdemona in the play, whom Iago falsely accused to Othello of having an affair with Cassio.

Production Background

Voice Actor: CCH Pounder

Desdemona's name was never actually used in the series, but merely in the ending credits to "Legion" and "High Noon"; her name does not actually exist in the Gargoyles Universe as Coldfire's does.