The Moor of Venice, noble and trusting, is manipulated by Iago into murdering his innocent wife. Shakespeare's economy is terrifying: the tragedy unfolds in a few days, driven by Iago's improvisations and Othello's susceptibility. Why does Iago do it? He offers many motives, too many, and critics have argued for centuries. The play is relentless in its focus on jealousy, on the vulnerability of love, on the catastrophe that follows when trust is betrayed. The murder of Desdemona is almost unbearable to watch.