Claim: Laurence Fishburne portrayed a character.

Othello -LRB- The Tragedy of Othello , the Moor of Venice -RRB- is a tragedy by William Shakespeare , believed to have been written in 1603 . It is based on the story Un Capitano Moro -LRB- `` A Moorish Captain '' -RRB- by Cinthio , a disciple of Boccaccio , first published in 1565 . The story 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 ultimately unfaithful ensign , Iago . Given its varied and enduring themes of racism , love , jealousy , betrayal , revenge and repentance , Othello is still often performed in professional and community theatre alike , and has been the source for numerous operatic , film , and literary adaptations .