�Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see: She has deceived her father, and may thee.� Othello (The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice) by English dramatist and national poet, William Shakespeare, was written in 1603�1604 and published in the First Folio of 1623. This five-act tragedy begins when the celebrated black general of Venice, Othello, appoints Cassio as his chief lieutenant instead of the soldier, Iago. Blinded by jealousy and resentment, Iago plots Othello�s downfall. He falsely accuses Othello�s wife Desdemona and Cassio of having a love affair. Iago gets ample help from Roderigo, who resents Othello�s fame as much as Iago, to carry out his evil plan. The villainous Iago manipulates everyone around him and exploits Othello�s sexual jealousy for his own gains. Because of the play�s enduring themes of racism, love, jealousy, betrayal, revenge, and repentance, Othello has been widely performed. It continues to appeal to theatre-goers across the world and has been adapted for the opera and the screen several times.