Othello

Othello is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, written in the early 17th century and first performed before King James I in 1604. The play explores themes of jealousy, racism, manipulation, and moral corruption through the story of Othello, a Moorish general in Venice whose marriage to Desdemona becomes the target of a calculated campaign of deception by his ensign Iago.

The drama unfolds as Iago, motivated by resentment and prejudice, methodically poisons Othello's mind with false accusations of infidelity. Shakespeare's portrait of a noble man undone by doubt and manipulation remains one of literature's most penetrating examinations of how prejudice can be weaponized and how easily trust can be shattered. The play's language is characteristically rich, moving between the formal speech of the Venetian court and the raw emotional intensity of Othello's psychological unraveling.

This edition presents the complete text as it has been studied in schools and universities for centuries. Othello continues to be performed regularly on stages worldwide and adapted into film, music, and visual art, testament to its enduring power to provoke thought about power, race, and human nature.

• Written by William Shakespeare
• First performed 1604
• Genre: Tragedy
• Central themes: jealousy, manipulation, racism, betrayal
• Complete, unabridged text