othello___story

Othello (full title: The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice) is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, probably in 1603. The story revolves around two characters, Othello and Iago. Othello is a Moorish military commander who was serving as a general of the Venetian army in defence of Cyprus against invasion by Ottoman Turks. He has recently married Desdemona, a beautiful and wealthy Venetian lady much younger than himself, against the wishes of her Portrait in oil painting of Ira Aldridge as Othello by Léon Herbo () father. Iago is Othello's malevolent ensign, who maliciously stokes his master's jealousy until the usually stoic Moor kills his beloved wife in a fit of blind rage. Due to its enduring themes of passion, jealousy, and race, Othello is still topical and popular and is widely performed, with numerous adaptations. Othello – General in the Venetian military, a noble Moor Characters Desdemona – Othello's wife; daughter of Brabantio Iago – Othello's trusted, but jealous and traitorous ensign Cassio – Othello's loyal and most beloved captain Emilia – Iago's wife and Desdemona's maidservant Bianca – Cassio's lover Brabantio – Venetian senator and Desdemona's father (can also be called Brabanzio) Roderigo – dissolute Venetian, in love with Desdemona Duke of Venice Gratiano – Brabantio's brother Lodovico – Brabantio's kinsman and Desdemona's cousin Montano – Othello's Venetian predecessor in the government of Cyprus Clown – servant Senators Sailor Officers, Gentlemen, Messenger, Herald, Attendants, Musicians, etc. Plot Desdemona and Othello, by Antonio Muñoz Degrain, 1880 Act I Roderigo, a wealthy and dissolute gentleman, complains to his friend Iago, an ensign, that Iago has not told him about the recent secret marriage between Desdemona, the daughter of Brabantio, a Othello costume. Illustration by Percy Anderson for Costume Fanciful, Historical and Theatrical, 1906 senator, and Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army. Roderigo is upset because he loves Desdemona and had asked her father, Brabantio, for her hand in marriage. Iago hates Othello for promoting a younger man named Cassio above him, whom Iago considers a less capable soldier than himself. Iago tells Roderigo that he plans to exploit Othello for his own advantage and convinces Roderigo to wake Brabantio and tell him about his daughter's elopement.