Othello, a tragedy by William Shakespeare, tells the story of Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army, and his tragic downfall due to jealousy, manipulation, and betrayal. The play is set in Venice and later on the island of Cyprus, where Othello is sent to defend against a Turkish invasion.
At the beginning of the play, Othello secretly marries Desdemona, a beautiful and noble Venetian woman. Their love faces disapproval from Desdemona's father and others, but Othello's reputation as a respected military leader helps protect their union. However, Othello's ensign, Iago, harbors deep resentment toward Othello, partly because he was passed over for a promotion in favor of Cassio, another soldier.
Driven by jealousy and a desire for revenge, Iago begins to manipulate the people around him. He plants seeds of doubt in Othello's mind, making him believe that Desdemona is unfaithful with Cassio. Despite Desdemona's innocence, Othello becomes consumed by jealousy. Iago uses various schemes, including the theft of a handkerchief (a gift from Othello to Desdemona), to fuel Othello's suspicions.
Blinded by jealousy and manipulated by Iago’s lies, Othello's trust in Desdemona is shattered, and he eventually kills her in a fit of rage. Soon after, the truth of Iago's treachery is revealed, and Othello, overwhelmed by guilt and grief, takes his own life. Iago is arrested but never fully punished for his crimes.
The play explores themes such as the destructive power of jealousy, the effects of racism, the manipulation of trust, and the vulnerability of love to external pressures. Othello’s tragic fate serves as a powerful cautionary tale about how easily love and honor can be corrupted by deceit and suspicion.
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Professor Bradley Greenburg of Northeastern Illinois University provides an in-depth analysis of the plot, themes, characters, symbols, and motifs in William Shakespeare's play Othello.
Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on William Shakespeare's Othello. Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.
The story of an African general in the Venetian army who is tricked into suspecting his wife of adultery, Othello is a tragedy of sexual jealousy. First performed around 1604, the play is also a pioneering exploration of racial prejudice.
A noble general is fooled into believing his wife is unfaithful, due to the machinations of his evil subordinate.
In Othello, William Shakespeare creates powerful drama from a marriage between the exotic Moor Othello and the Venetian lady Desdemona that begins with elopement and mutual devotion and ends with jealous rage and death. Shakespeare builds many differences into his hero and heroine, including race, age, and cultural background. Yet most readers and audiences believe the couple’s strong love would overcome these differences were it not for Iago, who sets out to destroy Othello. Iago’s false insinuations about Desdemona’s infidelity draw Othello into his schemes, and Desdemona is subjected to Othello’s horrifying verbal and physical assaults.
