Question

In this speech, which takes place before his relationship with Desdemona unravels, Othello aims to convince the Duke that Desdemona married him freely. How does his description of her behavior support or counter that argument?
(Options are below in comments. Please help!)

Answer 1

The speech refutes his argument by underscoring that Desdemona was young and innocent when she first met Othello, and therefore easily impressed by his tales.

The speech supports his argument by showing that Desdemona was a strong, independent woman who was perfectly capable of making her own decisions.

The speech supports his argument by illustrating that Othello’s behavior in her presence was not coercive but drew her interest in a natural way.

The speech refutes his argument by detailing his plot to entice her interest with his wild and romantic tales of valor in battle.

Answer 2

Othello
by William Shakespeare (excerpt)

DUKE. Say it, Othello.
OTHELLO. Her father loved me, oft invited me,
Still question'd me the story of my life
From year to year, the battles, sieges, fortunes,
That I have pass'd.
I ran it through, even from my boyish days
To the very moment that he bade me tell it:
Wherein I spake of most disastrous chances,
Of moving accidents by flood and field,
Of hair-breadth 'scapes i' the imminent deadly breach,
Of being taken by the insolent foe
And sold to slavery, of my redemption thence
And portance in my travels' history;
Wherein of antres vast and deserts idle,
Rough quarries, rocks, and hills whose heads touch heaven,
It was my hint to speak—such was the process—
And of the Cannibals that each other eat,
The Anthropophagi, and men whose heads
Do grow beneath their shoulders. This to hear
Would Desdemona seriously incline;
But still the house affairs would draw her thence,
Which ever as she could with haste dispatch,
She'ld come again, and with a greedy ear
Devour up my discourse;