Othello (character) Othello (character) Othello () is a character in Shakespeare's "Othello" (c. 1601–1604). The character's origin is traced to the tale "Un Capitano Moro" in "Gli Hecatommithi" by Giovanni Battista Giraldi Cinthio. There, he is simply referred to as the Moor. Othello is a brave and competent soldier of advanced years and Moorish background in the service of the Venetian Republic. He elopes with Desdemona, the beautiful daughter of a respected Venetian senator. After being deployed to Cyprus, Othello is manipulated by his Ancient (pronounced Ensign) Iago into believing Desdemona is an adulteress. Othello murders her and, upon discovering Iago's deceit,
Othello in popular culture Othello in popular culture The figure of Othello from the tragic play by William Shakespeare has appeared in many examples of popular culture since being authored by Shakespeare in the early 16th century. The literary character of Othello and the plot of the play by Shakespeare has been a recurrent theme in painting for several centuries. Selected examples include 'The Plot' depicting Othello & Iago which was painted in Oil by Solomon Alexander Hart in 1855. He also painted a watercolour version held at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. "Othello" was a series of 60 paintings executed in