Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Othello
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History
Images
Still from the motion picture version of Shakespeare's Othello, with Orson Welles as Othello and Suzanne Cloutier as Desdemona, 1951; directed by Welles. Iago, as portrayed by Kenneth Branagh (right), with Laurence Fishburne in the title role of Othello, 1995. Othello, as portrayed by Laurence Fishburne (centre), with Irène Jacob (left) as Desdemona and Kenneth Branagh (right) as Iago, 1995 Othello “Ira Frederick Aldridge as Othello,” painting by Henry Perronet Briggs, c. 1830; in the National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.
Quizzes
Two costumed actors performing a dance onstage. theater, performers. Hompepage blog 2009, arts and entertainment, history and society
The Literary World (Characters Quiz)
USA 2006 - 78th Annual Academy Awards. Closeup of giant Oscar statue at the entrance of the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Hompepage blog 2009, arts and entertainment, film movie hollywood
Pop Culture Quiz
Read Next
Close up of books. Stack of books, pile of books, literature, reading. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society
12 Novels Considered the “Greatest Book Ever Written”
Discover
Portrait of a mountain gorilla at a short distance. gorilla close up portrait.The mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei)
Falling Stars: 10 of the Most Famous Endangered Species
Internet http://www blue screen. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, media news television, crowd opinion protest, In the News 2009, breaking news
Who Invented the Internet?
Periodical Cicada, Adult, Magicicada spp. Requires 17 years to complete development. Nymph splits its skin, and transforms into an adult. Feeds on sap of tree roots. Northern Illinois Brood. This brood is the largest emergence of cicadas anywhere
Why Do Some Cicadas Appear Only Every 17 Years?
Big beaver gnawing on limb at river's edge
6 Animal Species that Mate for Life
Illustration for Demystified "How Dangerous is Quicksand"
How Deadly Is Quicksand?
Germans from East and West stand on the Berlin Wall in front of the Brandenburg Gate in the November 10, 1989, photo, one day after the wall opened.
Timeline of the 1980s
Secret Service Agent Listens To Earpiece
Secret Service Code Names of 11 U.S. Presidents
Still from the motion picture version of Shakespeare's Othello, with Orson Welles as Othello and Suzanne Cloutier as Desdemona, 1951; directed by Welles.
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

fictional character
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated: • Article History

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.