The heavens forbid
But that our loves and comforts should increase,
Even as our days do grow!
– William Shakespeare
Othello, Act 2, Scene 1. In this moment of dramatic irony, Desdemona calls to the heavens to continue to increase the love and comfort she and Othello enjoy as they grow older. The audience is aware of Iago’s plot to spoil Desdemona’s dream, so that increase in love is unlikely to happen. At the end of Act 1 Iago revealed his plan to drop hints to Othello that Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio.