Brabantio
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?
1 Educator Answer
Quick answer:
Brabantio's reaction to being told that Othello and Desdemona are involved in an affair is to call for weapons, light torches, and raise all his family, who he tells to "swarm" the town. This response shows us how strongly Brabantio feels about what he thinks about what has happened.In act one, scene one, of Shakespeare's Othello, Iago and Roderigo call the senator Brabantio to his window by falsely claiming that Brabantio is being robbed. From the beginning of their exchange, then, Brabantio is in a foul mood. His mood only gets worse when Iago tells him that
I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter
and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs.
In other words, he is telling Brabantio that his daughter Desdemona and the moor Othello are having sex. Brabantio reacts by calling his servants to
Strike on the tinder, ho!
Give me a taper! call up all my people!
This accident is not unlike my dream:
Belief of it oppresses me already.
Light, I say! light!
Moments later, he is outside his house with his servants carrying torches and asking for someone "to raise all my kindred.” We can tell how upset he is by his frantic speech, which jumps from one thought to the other.
Where didst thou see her? O unhappy girl!
With the Moor, say'st thou? Who would be a father!
How didst thou know 'twas she? O she deceives me
Past thought! What said she to you? Get more tapers:
When Roderigo tells him that Othello and Desdemona are probably married, he becomes furious, stating that it is a "treason of the blood." Brabantio calls for weapons and vows to stop and search every house for his once good friend.
What is Brabantio's role in Othello?
1 Educator Answer
Brabantio is Desdemona's father. He is a powerful Venetian senator. His daughter's marriage to Othello comes as a complete surprise and shock to him. He strongly disapproves of the marriage because, for one thing, he is prejudiced against Othello for his race. Brabantio believes Othello has won Desdemona's love by some sort of witchcraft known only to his own alien people in Africa. His character functions to give the play a dramatic opening and to express the general prejudice felt by Venetians against members of Othello's race. ("Damned as thou art, thou hast enchanted her!" 1.2.64) Using his authority as a senator, he has Othello arrested. He hopes to have the marriage annulled, but Desdemona convinces the Duke that she loves Othello and married him of her own free will. Significantly, Brabantio plants the first tiny seed of suspicion and jealousy in Othello's mind when he says in parting: "Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see. / She has deceived her father, and may thee." (1.3.295-6) Othello will remember these words later.
Why does Brabantio protest his daughter's marriage to Othello?
2 Educator Answers
Brabantio is horrified at his daughter's marriage on many levels. Sexism, status, race, and general propriety all are factors.
The older man is fully immersed in the patriarchal values of his time. Marriage for love was far from accepted. Wealthy elites almost always chose their daughters' husbands, and their sons were often closely steered toward marriage with a suitable woman in terms of both status and family wealth. The idea that his daughter would defy this customary procedure and make her own decision without even consulting him is beyond belief.
The question of race is not fully separable from wealth and class, as few Moors were of high status. It should be noted that Moor could be a person of North African heritage, even one whose family had been in Europe (especially Spain) for generations, often Muslim or converted to Christian from Muslim—regardless of skin color. On the other hand, especially in England, "Moor" was often used for any dark-skinned person, anyone from Africa, or southern Europeans such as Spaniards or Sicilians.
Desdemona's father is also concerned about reputation, social censure, and gossip. A girl who goes outside her family's wishes might well be ostracized from their social circle. From his perspective, bewitching is a better explanation than her willfulness as that removes the blame from her. Also, bear in mind that elopement was far from common. Brides were expected to be virgins and bloody sheets might be displayed the morning after the wedding. Elopement was often contrived to cover up premarital pregnancy. The Elizabethan audience would have understood this father's dismay that his daughter might have been telling him she was already pregnant.
Brabantio doesn't want Desdemona to marry Othello because he is racist. In this Shakespearean world, Othello could be applauded for his great triumphs at war but he certainly couldn't marry a white man's daughter. Remember that Othello was a Moor. Typically, Moors were a people from Northern Africa. Othello would have been dark skinned and from a far different culture. It is likely that he was even of a different religion because many of the Moors were Muslim while most of Europe was Catholic. We see evidence of Brabantio's racism when he tells Roderigo, a man he has forbidden to pursue his daughter, that he wishes he had allowed the match rather than watch Desdemona marry Othello. In fact, Brabantio is so shocked by his daughter's choice that he accuses Othello of bewitching her. Surely his precious daughter would not choose to marry someone like Othello. Of course, Desdemona does not share her father's prejudice and seems to truly care for her new husband.
Who is Brabantio and why do Iago and Roderigo awaken him at night?
3 Educator Answers
Quick answer:
Iago and Roderigo, who hate Othello because of his Venetian superiority and their failure to gain the positions they seek in the army, conspire to awaken Brabantio in the middle of the night with news that Othello has abducted Desdemona and is now abusing her. Brabantio is outraged by this story since he knows that it is a lie but is forced to take action against his daughter's kidnapper. Unfortunately for them all, it transpires that Othello is innocent of wrongdoing and Desdemona has chosen to elope with him of her own free will.Brabantio, in Shakespeare's Othello, is the father of Desdemona, the woman whom Othello has just married at the beginning of the play. Brabantio also happens to be a Venetian senator. Iago explains in the first scene that he, Iago, "doth hate the Moor [Othello]" and is resolved to punish him for having established Michael Cassio, "who never set a squadron in the field," as his lieutenant, while Iago must be content with being "his Moorship's ancient." He wakes Brabantio in the middle of the night to create a scene, telling him that "an old black ram is tupping your white ewe." He wants to horrify Brabantio with the realization that Othello has just married Brabantio's daughter without his knowledge, and thus have Othello punished for this.
Roderigo is happy to join Iago in this matter because he is in love with Desdemona, so if Othello were to be punished and the marriage potentially declared invalid, he might have a chance of getting what he wants. Indeed, when Brabantio learns what has happened, he declares that he would rather Roderigo had married Desdemona; while he clearly had little love for Roderigo before, the idea of him marrying Desdemona is less unpalatable than that she should be married to Othello, against whom he has a racial prejudice.
In Othello, who is Brabantio, and why do Iago and Roderigo awaken him?
Brabantio is a Venetian senator and Desdemona's father. He is quite protective of her and has kept her from many suitors including Roderigo, who he has forbidden to ever visit his home again. Desdemona has fallen in love with Othello and has eloped with him.
Iago and Roderigo come to rouse Brabantio in the dead of night to inform him that Othello has abducted his daughter against her will and is abusing her at the very moment that they are talking to him. Their purpose is to demonize Othello so that Brabantio may use his authority to have Othello dismissed from his post as general and have him incarcerated.
The reason for this vindictive and pernicious lie is that firstly, Iago is jealous of Othello's position since he has been appointed general of the Venetian army even though he is a foreigner and a Moor. Secondly, Iago has been loyal to Othello and has applied to be his lieutenant but Othello chose to appoint a Florentine, Michael Cassio, in the position. Iago resents this appointment since he believes that Michael has only book knowledge and lacks experience in battle, whilst he, Iago, possesses the right qualities for the post.
In his attempts to obtain the position, Iago had also acquired the recommendations of three senators but these were ignored by Othello. Iago had promised that he would continue feigning loyalty to the general so that he may serve his turn upon him.
Roderigo, who is besotted with Desdemona, is assisting Iago in his devious scheme in the hope of obtaining some advantage in his desire to woo her. Iago has promised that he would ensure Roderigo's success in this endeavor. The gullible Roderigo has now become putty in Iago's manipulative paws and pleases the malevolent schemer's every whim.
On their way to Brabantio's home, Iago instructs Roderigo:
Call up her father,
Rouse him: make after him, poison his delight,
Proclaim him in the streets; incense her kinsmen,
And, though he in a fertile climate dwell,
Plague him with flies: though that his joy be joy,
Yet throw such changes of vexation on't,
As it may lose some colour.
He obviously wishes to spoil both Brabantio's sleep and mar Othello's joy. He uses Roderigo to do his despicable work. Once Brabantio has been awoken, they will give him the frightful news about his daughter's kidnap. After Brabantio has heard their truly gross account of Othello's so-called crime, he is extremely upset, and passionately cries out:
Strike on the tinder, ho!
Give me a taper! call up all my people!
This accident is not unlike my dream:
Belief of it oppresses me already.
Light, I say! light!
As soon as Iago knows that Brabantio is convinced and has taken action, he takes his leave, unashamedly telling Roderigo that he should be seen as being in support of Othello in this matter so that suspicion does not fall upon him. Furthermore, he would be able to gain Othello's trust, thus giving him the opportunity to manipulate the unsuspecting general even more. Roderigo remains behind to provide Brabantio with more detail about Othello's supposed crime and where he can be found.
The two plotters are successful in their attempt to raise Brabantio's ire but fail to have the Moor punished since Desdemona later stands up for him and he is absolved of all guilt. Othello is then requested to leave for Cyprus where he has to fight off a possible invasion by the Turks.
In Othello, who is Brabantio, and why do Iago and Roderigo awaken him?
Brabantio is the fair maiden, Desdemona's, father. He is a Venetian senator and is depicted as an overprotective and possessive parent who has been consistently turning away the many suitors who have come to woo his daughter. An example of this is illustrated in Act 1 scene 1 on the occasion of Roderigo and Iago's untimely visit to his home. He tells Roderigo:
I have charged thee not to haunt about my doors:
In honest plainness thou hast heard me say
My daughter is not for thee
Othello, the play's protagonist, is a general in the Venetian army and has been a regular guest in Brabantio's house. The senator had been entertained by Othello's dramatic tales about his life. During these conversations, Desdemona had been eavesdropping and was enthralled by Othello's storytelling to such an extent, that she requested he relate his woeful and dramatic life story privately to her. This Othello did and the two eventually fell in love and decided to elope.
It is important to note that Othello is much older than Desdemona and that he is also an outsider, a Moor, and therefore of a darker complexion than the Venetians. He is of noble blood and an excellent warrior and it is because of this that he had been appointed in this most venerable position.
Iago, a full time soldier, had applied for a position as Othello's lieutenant, but the general dismissed his application and instead appointed a young man, Michael Cassio, also an outsider since he is a Florentine, to be his second-in-command. Iago had to be satisfied with being Othello's ancient, which is a much lower rank.
Iago deeply resented being overlooked and despised Othello for having humiliated him in such a manner, for even the appeals made by senators on his behalf, were ignored by the general. In his bitterness, Iago swore revenge and began scheming against the general. He had managed to obtain the support of the sycophantic, love-struck and ill-fated Roderigo whom he would use as his puppet. At one point, Iago tells Roderigo after he had told him about his utter disappoint in Othello for not awarding him the position:
... 'tis the curse of service,
Preferment goes by letter and affection,
And not by old gradation, where each second
Stood heir to the first. Now, sir, be judge yourself,
Whether I in any just term am affined
To love the Moor.
It is obvious that Iago believes that his service to Othello was not a factor in the general's consideration to appoint a lieutenant, but that he was unfairly influenced by 'letter' and 'affection' - probably a reference to the fact that Othello was impressed by Cassio's writing skills and that he was fond of him. Iago asks Roderigo whether he could love Othello for such an injustice. When Roderigo replies that he 'would not follow him then,' Iago states his intent:
O, sir, content you;
I follow him to serve my turn upon him:
He categorically states that he will act as Othello's servant in order to exact his revenge. The two then proceed to Brabantio's house in order to awaken him with the terrible news that Othello has kidnapped Desdemona and is, at that moment, sexually abusing his daughter. Their purpose is to defile Othello's name to such an extent that Brabantio would be both distraught and angry. Their expectation is that the senator would demand Othello's arrest and incarceration. He would obviously also lose his position for committing such a heinous deed.
Awake! what, ho, Brabantio! thieves! thieves! thieves!
Look to your house, your daughter and your bags!
Thieves! thieves!Zounds, sir, you're robb'd; for shame, put on
your gown;
Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul;
Even now, now, very now, an old black ram
Is topping your white ewe. Arise, arise;
Awake the snorting citizens with the bell,
Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you:
Arise, I say.
The two behave as if they're acting out of care and in Brabantio's best interests. They put on such a clamor that he is convinced and proceeds to take what he believes is necessary action, much to the delight of the two scoundrels.
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