Othello follows the title character, a Moorish general in the Venetian army, as he is manipulated by his ensign, Iago, into believing that his wife, Desdemona, is being unfaithful to him. Fueled by Iago's lies, Othello is driven into a fit of jealousy which will have deadly ramifications. The play explores themes of jealousy, racism, and the destructive nature of unchecked emotions.