About the work
Shakespeare's tragedy „Othello, the Moor of Venice" was written around 1603 and is one of his four great tragedies. The play is based on a novella by the Italian Cinthio (1565) and depicts the destruction of a noble man through pathological jealousy.
Plot
Venice and Cyprus, around 1570. Othello, a Moor in Venetian service, has secretly married Desdemona, daughter of the senator Brabantio. Her ensign Iago, embittered that Othello has promoted Cassio over him, vows revenge. As the army moves to Cyprus to fight the Turks, Iago weaves his web: he convinces Othello that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. He plants Desdemona's handkerchief in Cassio's quarters as supposed proof. Othello, in jealous rage, dismisses Cassio and demands the handkerchief from Desdemona — when she cannot produce it, he is convinced of her guilt. In the bedchamber Othello smothers her with a pillow. Iago's wife Emilia exposes the deceit; Iago kills her. Othello recognises the truth, stabs himself and dies on Desdemona's body.
Cultural significance
Othello is one of the most-performed Shakespeare plays. The role of Iago is considered one of the great villain parts of world literature. The work has shaped the discussion of race in theatre — until the twentieth century the role was played by white actors in blackface; Paul Robeson's 1943 Broadway Othello was a turning point. Verdi's opera „Otello" (1887) is based on the play. Famous Othellos include Laurence Olivier, James Earl Jones, Willard White and Chiwetel Ejiofor.