Character Analysis in Othello by Williams Shakespeare

Considering the setting, the conflict, and the ways Brabantio was informed of Desdemona’s disappearance makes him an overprotective, prejudiced father.

In the middle of the night, Iago and Roderigo stand outside of Desdemona’s father’s house and wake him up with their shouts. They then mention about Desdemona and Othello’s marriage using lewd expressions. Brabantio at first is not able to believe that his daughter married without letting him know, but later when he figures that out he gets even angrier that his daughter married to Othello (African black skinned person) rather than a white guy. At that point, he pulls out his weapons and goes towards Othello accusing him of kidnapping his daughter through magic. Later Brabantio goes before the Duke and discusses this matter in front of him.

According to how Brabantio was being informed in the middle of the night, Brabantio’s reactions are far more intense than they should be. Even though Iago and Roderigo used animal as symbols in their speeches to refer Othello, Brabantio should not use them as soon as he acknowledges that his daughter is married to Othello happily with the permission of her will. It is true that he is worried about his daughter’s safety like a responsible father should, but there are certain other thoughts and acts delivered through his words which proves that this was not the only reason of his over-reaction.

One of these thoughts and acts of Brabantio is perceived when he says, "O heaven! How got she out? O treason of the blood!" when he hears about Desdemona’s disappearance. He doesn’t believe how Desdemona was able to get out of the house. This line foreshadows that Brabantio was an over-protective father who didn’t allow his daughter to get out of the hou...

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...l relations) are more important for him than the relationship with his daughter. Instead of disowning his own daughter and refusing to let her stay in his house for a few days, a good father should be delighted to see his daughter married to the man of her dream and should feel blessed as his daughter knows her duties. A most divine and forgiving father would have overlooked the act of treason and accepted his daughter's choice. If Brabantio was and always had been a proper father, Desdemona would have never gone to Othello so willingly without letting him know.

In the end, Duke mentions to Brabantio “If virtue no delighted beauty lack, your son-in-law is far more fair than black.” These lines of Duke highlighted to Brabantio that his reaction over his daughter’s marriage with Othello is incorrect as his son-in-law is fair (good) not black (evil) as thought by him.