(source; www.picture-desk.com) (From Baruch’s digital image database)
This illustration is titled Desdemona At her Father’s Feet, painted in the 19th Century (1798-1863) by a French man named Delacroix Eugene. The image shows exactly what the title states, it’s Desdemona wearing a brown colored dress on her knee’s facing her father Signor Brabantio (dressed in the red gown) asking for either forgiveness or acceptance, but he has disappointed/disgusted look on his face, he seems to be somewhat pushing her aside, while the onlookers in the background are curiously watching, waiting to see that occurs next. From the text this when Desdemona’s father finds from Roderigo and Iago that her daughter is sleeping with and married to the Moor Othello. The duo initially make Desdemona’s father believe that Othello has used some sort of witchcraft to steal his daughter away. “Oh, heaven, how got she out? Oh, treason of the blood! Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters’ minds by what you see them act. Is there not charms by which the property of youth and maidhood may be abused? Have you not read, Roderigo, of some such thing?” (Act 1 Scene 1 line 160), and also later on when Signor Brabantio confronts Othello and states,”O thou foul thief, where hast thou stowed my daughter? Damned as thou art, thou hast enchanted her! For I’ll refer me to all things of sense, If she in chains of magic were not bound, whether a maid so tender, fair, and happy, so opposite to marriage that she shunned, the wealthy curlèd darlings of our nation” (Act 1 Scene 2 Line 65). Othello then asks for a trial within which he states that he has used no witchcraft or magic, he and Desdemona are in love with each other. The Duke then calls out Desdemona to confirm that they are in fact in love. She states,“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 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.” (Act 1 Scene 3 line 185). This is what the illustration is trying to capture, Desdemona and her father Brabantio debating about the decisions she’s made.
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