A celebrated general's love and authority are systematically destroyed by the treacherous machinations of his ensign, Iago.
Iago, an ensign in the Venetian army, hates his general, the Moor Othello, for making Cassio his lieutenant instead of him. He rouses the senator Brabantio with the news that his daughter Desdemona has secretly married Othello, and Brabantio charges Othello before the Duke with winning her by witchcraft. But Desdemona declares that she chose him freely, and the council, needing Othello against a Turkish fleet, sends him to Cyprus with his bride to follow.
On Cyprus, Iago gets Cassio drunk and into a brawl that costs him his post, then advises him to ask Desdemona to plead his case. Each time she does, Iago hints to Othello that her warmth for Cassio is guilty, and with a handkerchief, Othello's first gift to her, which Iago's wife Emilia picks up and he plants on Cassio, he convinces Othello of an affair.
Mad with jealousy, Othello smothers Desdemona in their bed. Emilia reveals the truth about the handkerchief and is killed by her husband, letters found on the dead Roderigo expose the plot, and Othello, understanding at last what he has done, kills himself beside his wife.
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