“It is too true an evil: gone she is;           

                And what’s to come of my despised time            

                Is nought but bitterness.”

This is the first time the audience sees Brabantio’s isolation. The situation is from Act one, Scene one. It effectively captures the emotional frustration of the old senator, who finds out the grim reality of the disturbing news brought to him by the two midnight intruders, Iago and Roderigo—that he is physically abandoned by his daughter. His words encapsulate his loss of hopes and the fear of being lonely in his “despised time.” His word choice, “bitterness,” further demonstrates how deeply he is affected by the abandonment of his daughter.

“O treason of the blood!             

                Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters’ minds     

                By what you see them act.”

The theme of isolation appears in this quote through the idea of betrayal and mistrust, which can lead to a sense of being alone or cut off from others. Brabantio feels isolated because he believes his daughter has betrayed him by eloping with Othello, which has shattered his trust in her and in other women. He warns other fathers not to trust their daughters’ actions, which reinforces the sense of isolation and separation between fathers and daughters. Overall, the quote highlights the destructive consequences of betrayal and the potential for isolation and mistrust that can result from it.

I have charged thee not to haunt about my doors:

Brabantio is speaking to Roderigo, and he is telling him that he has instructed him not to “haunt” or come around his doors. This suggests that Brabantio wants to keep himself and his family separate from others and does not want outsiders interfering in his personal life.

The phrase “my doors” also emphasises the theme of isolation because it suggests a boundary or barrier between Brabantio and the outside world. The use of the possessive pronoun “my” highlights Brabantio’s desire to maintain control over his own life and protect his personal space from unwanted intruders.

Moreover, the fact that Brabantio feels the need to instruct Roderigo not to haunt around his doors implies that he may have had previous experience with the latter, who has attempted to jeopardise his sense of honour by asking for the hand of his daughter. This further reinforces the theme of isolation, as Brabantio is actively trying to keep himself and his family away from the outside world.

Overall, this extract demonstrates the theme of isolation through the ideas of exclusion, separation, and the desire to maintain boundaries between oneself and others. It highlights the importance of personal space and the need to keep oneself safe from unwanted intruders.

“God be wi’ you! I have done.
Please it your grace, on to the state-affairs:
I had rather to adopt a child than get it.
Come hither, Moor:
I here do give thee that with all my heart
Which, but thou hast already, with all my heart
I would keep from thee. For your sake, jewel,
I am glad at soul I have no other child:”

The words of Brabantio in act I Scene III indicates several examples for the theme of isolation. Firstly, it can be interpreted as Brabantio isolating himself from Othello and Desdemona’s relationship. Brabantio’s statement that he had “rather to adopt a child than get it” can be seen as an indication that he feels betrayed by his daughter’s elopement and wants to disown her. This can be seen as a form of emotional isolation, as Brabantio is cutting himself off from his daughter and the man she has chosen to marry.

Secondly, Brabantio’s comment that he would “rather to adopt a child than get it” can be seen as an indication of his physical isolation. Brabantio is a wealthy and powerful Venetian senator, but he has no other children besides Desdemona. This lack of family can be seen as a form of isolation, as Brabantio has no immediate family members to turn to for comfort or support.

Ay, to me;
She is abused, stol’n from me, and corrupted
By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks;

Brabantio’s assertion in act I Scene III that Desdemona has been “abused, stol’n from me, and corrupted” suggests a sense of isolation and loss. He feels isolated emotionally and socially because he believes that his daughter has been taken away from him without his consent. Desdemona’s marriage to Othello creates a rift between her and her father, symbolising her departure from her family and the isolation that comes with forming a new, separate family unit.

I am hitherto your daughter: but here’s my husband,
And so much duty as my mother show’d
To you, preferring you before her father,
So much I challenge that I may profess
Due to the Moor my lord.

In act I Scene III,  Brabantio is confronted with his daughter’s declaration of loyalty to her husband, Othello, and her assertion that she will show Othello the same amount of devotion that her mother showed Brabantio. This confrontation serves to isolate Brabantio emotionally and socially.

Brabantio’s isolation becomes apparent as he realises that his daughter’s loyalty has shifted from him to her husband. He witnesses his daughter, who was once an integral part of his life and family, now aligning herself with Othello. This shift challenges Brabantio’s authority and influence over Desdemona’s decisions, isolating him from the control he may have had over her choices.

Desdemona’s comparison between her duty to Othello and her mother’s duty to Brabantio also accentuates his isolation. It implies that Brabantio’s role as a father figure has diminished in Desdemona’s eyes, leading to a sense of isolation as he grapples with the realisation that he is no longer the primary figure in her life.

Furthermore, Brabantio’s position in the Senate, where he accuses Othello of using spells and medicines to win Desdemona’s affection, highlights his isolation in a larger social context. His beliefs are met with scepticism and counterarguments, which further marginalise his perspective and isolate him from mainstream opinion.

In this quote, Brabantio’s emotional isolation stems from his daughter’s departure from his control and her allegiance to her husband. The contrasting loyalty that Desdemona expresses serves to underscore Brabantio’s separation from his daughter’s life decisions and the societal shift that is taking place.