Othello is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, first printed in a quarto edition in 1622, though it was performed earlier, with a recorded performance at the royal court in 1604. It tells of a Moorish general serving the Republic of Venice who is persuaded by his ensign Iago that his wife Desdemona has been unfaithful. The story moves from Venice to Cyprus, and Shakespeare drew on a tale from Giraldi Cinthio's collection of Italian stories. The play examines jealousy, manipulation, race and trust, and Iago has become one of the best-known villains in English drama. A revised text appeared in the First Folio of 1623, and the play has remained in the repertoire ever since.
Before and after
- from 30 August 1620 to 27 August 1623Palatinate campaign
- from 17 September 1620 to 7 October 1620Battle of Cecora
- November 1620The Mayflower lands the Pilgrims
- from 2 September 1621 to 9 October 1621Battle of Khotyn
- 1622Publication of Othello
- 15 January 1622Birth of Molière
- 1623Publication of Macbeth
- 1623Publication of Twelfth Night
- 1623Founding of Barbados
More in Art, literature & culture
- 1605Publication of Don Quixote
- 1652Origins of Quakers
- from 1660 to 1725Rise of Classicism
- 1661Construction of Palace of Versailles
- from c. 1730s to 1780sRise of Rococo
- 1759Construction of British Museum
The era
This moment belongs to the Early modern world (1500 CE to 1760 CE), voyages, printing and new ideas. You can also browse everything in the 17th century.