Othello

In Othello, William Shakespeare explores love, jealousy, betrayal, and racism through a complicated love triangle. It centers on the recently married Othello and Desdemona as well as Iago, who is deeply jealous of Othello and in love with Desdemona. Entirely ruthless in his schemes, Iago plots to destroy their marriage through lies, manipulation, and betrayals, often setting up his own friends as pawns. Iago creates such a pervasive web of lies that no one is safe; the characters, having trusted Iago and been fooled, conclude in suffering and tragedy. Because Othello is described as a Moor, the play is unique in addressing racial themes. Othello continues to be performed for wide audiences specifically to draw upon this theme.