The Duke's Council and Brabantio's Accusations
You're watching a proper political drama unfold here. Turkish forces are heading for Cyprus, and the Duke needs his best general - that's Othello - to defend it. But there's family drama brewing that threatens to derail everything.
Brabantio storms in, absolutely furious that his daughter Desdemona has married Othello. He's convinced that witchcraft must be involved because, in his racist mind, she'd never choose a Black man willingly. The Duke initially backs him up, promising to prosecute whoever used magic to seduce Desdemona.
Everything changes when the Duke realises the "seducer" is actually Othello, his most trusted general. Suddenly, he's asking Othello to defend himself rather than condemning him outright - politics trumps personal grievances when you need someone to save Cyprus.
Key Point: Notice how quickly the Duke's attitude shifts when he realises it's Othello - this shows the complex nature of racism and how it can be temporarily set aside when it's convenient.