Character motivation in Othello: Brabantio's opposition to Desdemona's marriage

Othello Analysis

Shakespeare's Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragic play that details Othello's rise as an experienced combat leader and his tragic fall from grace due to his ancient, Iago's, manipulations and strategies. During the course of the play, Iago attempts to sabotage Othello through various means including informing Brabantio that his daughter, Desdemona, had married Othello behind his back in addition to successfully convincing Othello that Desdemona had been unfaithful to his, which results in Othello killing her. In the play, it can be argued that Brabantio's objection to Othello and Desdemona's marriage hinges on several factors, which include religion and social standing and background. On the other hand, Iago's motivations are fueled by jealousy and rage, as he was not promoted to the position of lieutenant like he had hoped.

Brabantio's reaction to Othello and Desdemona's elopement is very negative. Brabantio contends, "She is abused, stol'n from me, and corrupted/By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks; / For nature so preposterously to err,/Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense,/Sans witchcraft could not" (Shakespeare 1.3.397-401). Brabantio believes that the only way that Desdemona would have married Othello is if she were stripped of her sensibilities via witchcraft. It is in this contention that the reader is made aware of Brabantio's objections based on religion. It can be argued that because Othello is a Moor, Brabantio, as a Christian, does not approve of the marriage. By alluding to the practice of witchcraft, one can be led to believe that Brabantio associates witchcraft and sorcery to Moorish peoples and thus believes that because of his background, Othello will do anything in his power to get Desdemona to marry him. Through Brabantio's discrimination of Othello based on his Moorish background, it can be argued that Brabantio's objections are also based on race.

Additionally, it appears as though Brabantio objects to the marriage because of Othello's social standing. Othello admits, while defending his actions, "Rude am I in my speech,/And little bless'd with the soft phrase of peace:/For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith,/Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used/Their dearest action in the tented field,/And little of this great world can I speak,/More than pertains to feats of broil and battle,/And therefore little shall I grace my cause/In speaking for myself" (1.3.421-429). Because Othello felt that it was necessary to mention his social standing and background, it is evident that this is a major consideration.