Free College Essays - The Father/Daughter Conflict in Shakespeares Othello :: GCSE Coursework Shakespeare Othello

Othello The Father/Daughter Conflict Brabantio, father of Desdemona in William Shakespeares Othello, is not happy that his daughter is marrying the backing character. This father/daughter conflict impacts the work significantly by foreshadowing the climax, giving antagonist Iago material for his evil plot.Brabantio is a Venetian Senator with definite ideas on the subject of his daughter. He wants to choose a husband for her who he feels is of her caliber and who can provide her a good life, as well as prepare the familys esteem in Venetian society. At that time, this was his right as Desdemonas father. Then, when life expectancy was short, Brabantio would have wanted a son of a rich fireside who could inherit the family wealth, and was besides a couple years older than his daughter, so she would not be widowed or have to return to her fathers dependence.Desdemona acts contrary to these plans by choosing to marry Othello who is a Moor, not a Venetian, which automatically lowers hi s stature. He is also an army general he does not have a lot of money, only some prestige. In addition, he is old - he could be Desdemonas father nearly in fact, he is Brabantios friend. Army life would keep him (and her) out of Venice, and keep on Brabantio from seeing his daughter, or future grandchildren. Consequently, Brabantio is extremely upset when he learns that they have eloped.Brabantios anger at Othellos thievery leads him to entreat the Duke and Senate to annul the marriage. It is also true that the depiction involving Iago and Roderigo telling Brabantio of his daughters eloping does much to develop the character of Iago as a meddling weasel early in the book.The scene in which Othello and Brabantio argue their cases before the Duke is the culmination of the underlying conflict between Desdemona and Brabantio. Desdemonas direct part in the saga is less important than the effects of this conflict on Othello, who emerges an honorable and lawfully wedded man aft(prenomi nal) his appearance before the Senate. However, the dubious nature of the marriage is to cause conflict later in the story, as Brabantio effectively disowns Desdemona and gives fuel to the gossip machine. Several clock the fact that Othello stole Desdemona is given as proof that she can be stolen from him.