Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian Army, has wed Desdemona, the daughter of a Senator. Their love should have been celebrated as a triumph over racial intolerance, but instead Iago – Othello’s deceitful, reckless aide – seizes the opportunity to exact a vain and illogical revenge upon him. Shakespeare has set Iago’s pathological fiendishness against Othello’s honesty, love, and integrity – examining the inner workings of a sick mind with astounding detail, and exploring how the power of suggestion can transform a perfect love into murderous jealousy.
Having created one of his most hateful villains and one of his most poignantly tragic heroes, Othello is a triumph – surely one of Shakespeare’s greatest works.
