Brabantio

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Brabantio, Desdemona's father, is a Venetian senator and a prominent figure in Venice, known as a magnifico. He accuses Othello of enchanting his daughter and dies after Desdemona departs for Cyprus with Othello and the Venetian forces.

At the beginning of the play, Brabantio's household is disturbed by Iago and Roderigo, who loudly claim that Brabantio has been robbed. Brabantio responds, "What tell'st thou me of robbing? This is Venice; / My house is not a grange" (I.i.105-06). He believes he is secure within the civilized society of Venice, not on its dangerous outskirts. When Iago shouts that Brabantio's daughter is currently sleeping with the Moor Othello, he taps into Brabantio's racial biases. Recognizing Roderigo, Brabantio reminds him that he had forbidden him from courting Desdemona. Shortly after, Brabantio first exposes his racial prejudice, telling Roderigo, "O would you had had her! / Some one way, some another" (I.i.175-76). He would prefer anyone, even the undesirable Roderigo, over Othello as his daughter's spouse.

Brabantio cannot accept that Desdemona has willingly chosen Othello. When Roderigo leads him to Othello's location, Brabantio draws his sword, prepared to fight. He accuses Othello of using magic and spells to seduce and abduct his daughter. He repeats this accusation to the Venetian senate, insisting that Othello must have used witchcraft to win Desdemona's affection. To Brabantio, Desdemona is so modest that it is unimaginable for her "To fall in love with what she fear'd to look on!" (I.iii.98). Othello explains that Desdemona was initially captivated by his stories of exotic adventures and eventually fell in love with him. Brabantio misses the irony in this explanation, as he himself invited Othello into his home to entertain him and his guests with tales of his daring exploits. When Desdemona supports Othello's account, Brabantio relinquishes his appeal. He never approves of his daughter's marriage to Othello and departs, expressing his complete disapproval.

Expert Q&A

In act 1 of Othello, how does Brabantio react to Iago and Roderigo's news?

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What is Brabantio's role in Othello?

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Why does Brabantio protest his daughter's marriage to Othello?

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Who is Brabantio and why do Iago and Roderigo awaken him at night?

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