Context

To put Othello into perspective, you'll need to know a little about William Shakespeare and why the play is still so popular over 400 years after it was first performed.

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford upon Avon in 1564. His father sold gloves and became an important person in the town. William, one of eight children, was the eldest son and was probably educated at the local grammar school. He married when he was only 18 and his wife, Anne Hathaway, was eight years older than him. They had two girls and a boy (who died aged 11).

Nobody knows how Shakespeare began to write or when he entered the theatre, but we know that he became a leading member of the theatre troupe known as 'The Lord Chamberlain's Men'. The company proved very popular and later, when King James I granted them the right to perform at his court, the troupe became known as 'The King's Men'. Shakespeare wrote over 30 plays for 'The King's Men', making it the most important theatre company in the country, and he often wrote parts for particular actors. He was very successful and wealthy in his time, and his work has remained very popular ever since.

The popularity of Othello

Othello is one of Shakespeare's most popular plays. There are all sorts of reasons for this but perhaps the main one is that the basic story still strikes a chord with modern audiences. We see what happens when a man, Iago, is passed over for promotion. He is determined to get revenge and starts to manipulate everyone around him. Iago's general, Othello, is tortured by jealousy and one small item, a missing handkerchief, leads to distrust, broken friendships, murder and suicide.

The play's themes also seem very up to date - they cover all sorts of things, like the role of women, love, jealousy, ambition and betrayal. However, perhaps the most challenging theme from the play is race - Othello is black and has married a white woman. There are lots of references to this and Shakespeare shows how complex the situation was even in his lifetime.

Othello has been filmed a number of times and adapted for stage in all sorts of ways. For instance, there have been versions set in the police force in London, versions starring jazz musicians, an opera and even a version which reverses the traditional roles, with Othello played by a white actor and the other roles played by black actors.