Time and Fate in Shakespeare’s Othello and Cinthio’s "The Moor of Venice"

[Introduction]Giraldi Cinthio’s short story "The Moor of Venice" forms the basis for William Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello. In addition to altering a number of minor aspects of the original tale, Shakespeare also introduces several overarching changes to the narrative by shortening the time frame of the story and excluding fate as a primary driving force of the plot. By diminishing the consequences of time and fate, Shakespeare allows the characters and their inner motivations to be at the forefront of the action.