Act. 1 Sc. 3

“My noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty. To you I am bound for life and education. My life and education both do learn me how to respect you. You are the lord of my duty; I am hitherto your daughter. But here’s my husband, and so much duty as my mother showed To you, preferring you before her father, so much I challenge that I may profess due to the Moor my lord.” Lines 209-218

When Brabanzio hears the news that his daughter is supposedly having sex with Othello he is convinced it wasn’t by her own free will and interrupts the Dukes military meeting and insists that all state affairs stop while they discuss what should be done about that awful Othello. The Duke decides to let Desdemona and Othello explain the situation. When Desdemona is questioned she promises that she married him by her own free will and he hasn’t forced her into anything. In fact they haven’t even consummated their marriage at that point. Apparently when Othello would come over to Brabanzio’s house he would question him about his hard life and all his battles and Desdemona would often hear these stories and fell for him. The Duke decides that Othello’s stories would probably win over his own daughter as well. When Brabanzio wants Desdemona to say that she is still most dutiful to her father she throws him a curve ball by stating that while she has lost no respect for her father she, like her mother, must pledge her allegiance to her new husband. She divides her love and respect rather than just replacing her father. This says a lot about her character and it also explains how she defended Cassio so strongly even though he was really no one to her compared to Othello. In the end her ability to put aside her emotions and do what’s right is the reason for her demise. Her ability to stand up for what she believes is the good thing to do shows her strength and makes her a beloved character.