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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