Facsimile of the first page of Othello, The Moor of Venice from the First Folio, published in 1623

Title page of the first quarto edition of Othello, published in 1622

"Othello and Desdemona in Venice" by Théodore Chassériau (1819–1856)

The seminal Russian actor and theatre practitioner Constantin Stanislavski as Othello in 1896.

The 1943 run of Othello — starring Paul Robeson and Uta Hagen — holds the record for the most performances of any Shakespeare play ever produced on Broadway.

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Othello

Othello, The Moor of Venice is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to be written approximately 1603. The work revolves around four central characters: Othello, his wife Desdemona, his lieutenant Cassio, and his trusted advisor Iago. more...

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Attesting to its enduring popularity, the play appeared in 7 editions between 1622 and 1705. Because of its varied themes — racism, love, jealousy and betrayal — it remains relevant to the present day and is oft performed in professional and community theatres alike. The play has also been the basis for numerous operatic, film and literary adaptations.

Source

The plot for Othello was developed from a story in Cinthio's collection, the Hecatommithi, which it follows closely. The only named character in Cinthio's story is "Desdemona", which means "unfortunate" in Greek; the other characters are identified only as "the standard-bearer", "the captain", and "the Moor". In the original, the standard-bearer lusts after Desdemona and is spurred to revenge when she rejects him. Unlike Othello, the Moor in Cinthio's story never repents the murder of his beloved, and both he and the standard-bearer escape Venice and are killed much later. Cinthio also drew a moral (which he placed in the mouth of the lady) that European women are unwise to marry the temperamental males of other nations.

Othello's character, in particular, is believed to have been inspired by several Moorish delegations from Morocco to Elizabethan England at the beginning of the 17th century. Or he could be Leo Africanus.

Date and text

The play was entered into the Register of the Stationers Company on October 6, 1621 by Thomas Walkley, and was first published in quarto format by him in 1622, printed by Nicholas Okes, under the title The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice. Its appearance in the First Folio (1623) quickly followed. Later quartos followed in 1630, 1655, 1681, 1695, and 1705; on stage and in print, it was a popular play.

Characters

Persons represented:

Duke of Venice.; Brabantio, also written Brabanzio, a Venetian Senator, father of Desdemona.; Other Senators.; Gratiano, Brother to Brabantio.; Lodovico, Kinsman to Brabantio.; Othello, A noble Moor in the service of the Republic of Venice; the protagonist of the play.; Cassio, Othello's Lieutenant.; Iago, his Ancient and ensign (standard bearer), the villain of the play.; Roderigo, a Venetian gentleman. Harbours unrequited love for Desdemona.; Montano, Othello's Venetian predecessor in the government of Cyprus.; Clown, Servant to Montano.; Desdemona, Daughter to Brabantio, and Wife to Othello.; Emilia, Iago's wife, maid to Desdemona.; Bianca, Cassio's Courtesan.; Lodovico, Venetian Nobleman, Desdemona's cousin; Miscellaneous: Officers, Gentlemen, Messenger, Musicians, Herald, Sailor, Attendants, servants etc;