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Through lively, moving dialogue, this narrative retells the dramatic and tragic story of one of Shakespeare's greatest plays. The Renaissance city of Venice is amazed when one of its beautiful, rich young women, Desdemona, runs away from home to marry Othello, the mercenary African general. Yet the marriage is largely accepted because of Othello's well-deserved reputation as Venice's noble defender, along with the obvious mutual devotion between him and his innocent bride.
But one man in particular seeks to destroy not only the marriage, but Othello, Desdemona, and everything good that they stand for. Passed over for a routine army promotion and cynical about all love, Othello's junior officer, Iago, devises an elaborate, involving scheme to destroy the marriage by planting suspicions in Othello's heart.
The play begins in Venice but shifts to Cyprus, where Othello and his young bride are posted for the island's military defense. There, in the course of a few brief days, Iago weaves a web of inconceivably evil deceit.
This is a story of trust and mistrust between masters and servants, and jealousy and love between men and women. It's a story of tragic innocence and the ultimate powers of trust and forgiveness.
Guided Reading Level: R
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