Othello

Still from the motion picture version of Shakespeare's Othello, with Orson Welles as Othello and Suzanne Cloutier as Desdemona, 1951; directed by Welles.

Othello, a Moorish general in the service of Venice in Shakespeare’s Othello. Driven by jealousy that has been skillfully manipulated, Othello takes the life of Desdemona, his doting wife, and then his own.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.
Citation Information
Article Title: Othello
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 26 February 2024
Access Date: November 13, 2026