In this short scene, the audience is introduced to Desdemona, who has been adopted by the Queen as her adopted child. She is a quiet child, who was brought up by her aunt to be a playmate for her nephew, who is the Duke of York. She was adopted out of pity for a victim of a war, and she is now a member of the royal family. She has been living in the castle for a few years, but she feels that she is no longer part of the "real royal family." She begs the guards to let her pass. She wants to meet a man who will change her life.