"Othello" by William Shakespeare: A respected general in the Venetian army, Othello is a proud, honorable man of imposing physical stature and unimpeachable character. Yet despite his lofty position, Othello is plagued by insecurities stemming from his race and background. A Christian Moor who rose from slavery to achieve greatness, Othello is a black man in a white man's world. He feels like a complete outsider in Venice, accepted only because of his courage and skill in warfare. It's not until he meets Desdemona, the daughter of a Venetian senator, that he finds true acceptance. The two fall in love and are secretly wed.
Of course, their marriage doesn't go over so well with Desdemona's father, who is convinced Othello had to stoop to some sort of sorcery to bewitch his innocent daughter. The marriage is also a source of great consternation for Roderigo, an unsuccessful rival for Desdemona's love. But Iago, Othello's ensign, sees the happy union as an opportunity for revenge. Despite being a loyal soldier for many years to Othello, Iago was passed over for promotion, with the good general electing instead to elevate the inexperienced Cassio to the rank of lieutenant. There are also rumors that Othello had slept with Iago's wife, Emilia. It all provides plenty of motivation for Iago to plot the demise of his master.
Iago schemes to prey upon Othello's insecurities, turning the Moor's love for Desdemona into the weapon that destroys him. The first step is to discredit Cassio. With the aid of Roderigo, Iago gets Cassio involved in a drunken brawl, causing Othello to strip him of his rank. When Cassio appeals to Desdemona to help him in regaining the good graces of her husband, Iago uses their brief interaction to plant the seed of doubt within Othello's head. It's not long before Iago has Othello convinced of Desdemona's deceit. Images of his wife's unfaithfulness, of her illicit affair with the young, handsome Cassio, consume Othello. The once noble general is quickly reduced to a jealous madman, persecuting his wife at each turn and finding guilt in her every word and action. It all builds until Othello slips into Desdemona's chamber while she sleeps and delivers a dazzling soliloquy, proclaiming, "Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men. Put out the light, and then put out the light" (Act V, scene II).
Desdemona's tragic demise was further immortalized in episode No. 26 of "Cheers." And, yes, I must relate everything to classic TV. Get used to it. In the show, entitled "Homicidal Ham," Diane Chambers attempts to befriend a downtrodden ex-con named Andy Schroeder, perhaps better known to many as Andy Andy from episode No. 17, "Diane's Perfect Date." Andy always had dreams of being an actor, so Diane decides to put his talents on display, staging a performance in the bar of the legendary strangulation scene, even inviting Professor DeWitt, a renowned theater critic, to attend. But little does Diane realize that Andy has fallen in love with her. When Andy sees Diane and Sam together, he becomes possessed with the jealous rage of Othello, carrying their scene beyond the realm of acting. As Diane struggles to pry Andy's murdering hands from her throat, the audience is engrossed in the action, causing Professor DeWitt to excitedly exclaim, "I love it! A Desdemona who fights back!" Aw, that's comedy.
"Othello" is an extraordinary examination of jealousy and trust. It's amazing how one's own self-doubt can twist reality and tarnish an emotion as strong as love. A few devious words from Iago are all it takes for Othello to question not only Desdemona's devotion, but also his own sense of right and wrong. Let it be a lesson to us all. I know I'll be more trusting of my wife. And girlfriend. And mistress.
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If you'd like to learn more about Edward de Vere and the truth about Shakespeare, here are a few links to get you started...
Shakespeare Oxford Society Home Page
The Shakespeare Authorship Studies Conference: Who Was Edward de Vere?