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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Othello
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, the Moor of Venice (c.1603)
Tragedy by *Shakespeare on the theme of the 'green-eyed monster', jealousy. Othello, a Moor (meaning that he comes from north Africa), has risen to high rank in the service of Venice and has married Desdemona, the daughter of a senator. He is sent to command the Venetian forces in Cyprus, where Iago, an officer in the army, sets about destroying him. Iago's resentment derives from Othello having promoted Cassio rather than himself, and his scheme is aimed at both of them. He insinuates into Othello's mind the dark suspicion that Cassio is having an affair with Desdemona, so that innocent requests by Desdemona on Cassio's behalf come to seem sinister.
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Iago tricks his own wife, Emilia (Desdemona's lady's maid), into procuring for him a handkerchief given by Othello to Desdemona, a token of his love; and he arranges for it to come into Cassio's possession. The sight of it seems final proof to the increasingly demented Othello. After a poignant bedtime scene in which Desdemona sings the willow song (obliquely about her own predicament), Emilia leaves her to sleep. Othello enters and strangles her ('put out the light, and then put out the light'). Emilia reveals all, Iago is killed, and Othello – fully aware now of Desdemona's innocence – stabs himself.
The play became the basis for another great work of art, Verdi's opera Otello (1887).
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