Brabantio

1. Description
Brabantio is a neutral character in Shakespeare's plays Othello and Christopher Moore's book ''The Serpent of Venice. ''Brabantio serves as a Senator in both plays. In Othello, Brabantio is a Venetian Senator and father to Desdemona. In Serpent of Venice, Brabantio is the Senator of Rome and father to Desdemona and Portia. His character and duties in both texts don't vary much besides the plot setting and the amount of daughters he possesses. Christopher Moore took the plays Othello and The Merchant of Venice and tied them together to create a book that recreates the characters.

2. Role in Serpent of Venice
In the Serpent of Venice, Brabantio is often referred to as Montresor. Montresor, Iago, and Antonio lure Pocket the Fool into coming to Venice to hangout with Portia, his daughter, but are actually plotting a murder against him. Pocket was the ambassador fighting against the war that Montresor wanted to enter, which created a target on his back. Montresor's character played a central role in the book and his life ended when Viv, the servant, murdered him.

3. Characterization
Brabantio's role as a character amounts to two things: Examples of racism were never portrayed in Brabantio's character until in the play Othello when Desdemona decided to marry Othello.
 * He is a racist
 * He is a sexist
 * He believes women are objects available to be stolen

4. Role in Othello
Brabantio's character in Othello serves as a wealthy and well- known Venetian politician. He invites Othello in his home quite regularly, never expecting Othello and his daughter, Desdemona, to fall in love. Brabantio feels completely betrayed when Desdemona decides to go behind his back and get married to Othello. Brabantio views his daughter as his property, so he thinks her marriage should be his decision. In (1.3.333-334) Brabantio describes Desdemonas marriage, "Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see. She has deceived her father, and may thee." In this one line he is being sexist and racist. Brabantio's life soon ends from "grieving" about Desdemona's marriage to Othello.

5. Sources
Moore, Christopher. The Serpent of Venice. New York: Harper Collins, 2014. Print. Shakespeare, William. Othello. Ed. Edward Pechter. New York: Norton, 2006. Print.

6. Famous Adaptations of Brabantio
Othello (1995 film) Pierre Vaneck as Brabantio

"O" (2001 film) John Heard as Brabantio

7. Gallery
Brabantio in a play

Casare De Giglio featured as Brabantio in a play

Mort Paterson featured as Brabantio in a play

Michael Fitzpatrick as Brabantio in the play Othello