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In Venice, Othello, a Moorish general in the service of the republic, secretly marries Desdemona, a senator's daughter. His ensign Iago, passed over for…
In Venice, Othello, a Moorish general in the service of the republic, secretly marries Desdemona, a senator's daughter. His ensign Iago, passed over for promotion in favour of Cassio, hates him and sets out to destroy him. When they are sent to Cyprus to defend it against the Turks, Iago gets Cassio drunk and disgraced, then, with hints, half-truths and a stolen handkerchief, persuades Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful with Cassio. Warned against 'the green-eyed monster' by the very man who feeds it, Othello is consumed by jealousy.
Context and significance
Shakespeare wrote the tragedy around 1603, based on an Italian story by Giraldi Cinthio, and Verdi turned it into one of his greatest operas. Iago, whose motives remain unclear, is one of the most chilling villains in drama, and the play is now central to discussions of race on the stage. The text is the First Folio version of 1623, in its original spelling. Another tragedy of a mind poisoned is Macbeth.
About the author
William Shakespeare (1564–1616), born in Stratford-upon-Avon, actor, playwright and shareholder of a London company, wrote about thirty-seven plays and 154 sonnets.