Othello

Shakespeare's play Othello portrays the dramatic story of a marriage that starts out as an infatuation between the exotic Moor Othello and the Venetian lady Desdemona, ends abruptly with jealous wrath and brutal murders, and begins with elopement. By transferring the scene from Venice to the island of Cyprus and adding tales of Othello's African background, he immerses the play in the seductive atmosphere of the Mediterranean. Shakespeare creates his hero and heroine with such many disparities—race, age, and cultural background—that it may not come as a surprise when the marriage fails miserably. However, the majority of viewers and readers of the play believe that Othello and Desdemona's love is so great that it would have triumphed over all of these obstacles if it weren't for Iago, Othello's standard-bearer, who despises the man and seeks to destroy him by sabotaging his love for Desdemona. Fascination, which pervades the play's early acts, transforms into terror when Othello gives in to Iago's accusations that Desdemona is disloyal, particularly for the audience. We witness scenes of an obliging and trusting Othello falling victim to Iago's devious plans; of a helpless Desdemona, who has given herself up completely to her love for Othello, only to be subjected to his horrific verbal and physical abuse as a result of Othello's misguided beliefs about her disloyalty.