The Tragedy of Othello the Moor of Venice is a tragedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in approximately 1603 and based on the short story Un Capitano Moro ("A Moorish Captain") by Cinthio a disciple of Boccaccio first published in 1565.This tightly constructed work revolves around four central characters: Othello a Moorish general in the Venetian army; his beloved wife Desdemona; his loyal lieutenant Cassio; and his trusted but unfaithful ensign Iago. Because of its varied and current themes of racism love jealousy betrayal revenge and repentance Othello is still often performed in professional and community theatres alike and has been the basis for numerous operatic film and literary adaptations.