Othello

The Moor of Venice, a tragedy by William Shakespeare, written about 1604, and published first in 1622. The plot is based on a story told by an Italian novelist. It is the simplest of the four great tragedies, of which the other three are Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear. Othello, the Moor, wins the love of Desdemona, daughter of Brabantio, and weds her against her father's wishes. Then Iago, the ancient of Othello, suggests to his master that Desdemona is unfaithful. Othello, as he believes, finds proof that this is true and murders his wife by smothering her in her bed. Then, learning that she is innocent, he stabs himself. The character of Othello is the center of interest in this play. While less interesting as a reading play than the other tragedies mentioned above, Othello has been more popular on the stage. Othello was one of Salvini's greatest roles, which he played at one time with Edwin Booth as Iago.