Final answer:
Shakespeare's 'Othello' is based on Cinthio's 'The Moor of Venice', but is uniquely Shakespearean due to its enriched language and character development.
Step-by-step explanation:
Shakespeare's Othello is indeed derived from another source, specifically a short story by the Italian author Cinthio titled The Moor of Venice, which was part of Cinthio's collection Gli Hecatommithi. Shakespeare adapted the story into his tragedy, exploring themes of jealousy, betrayal, and racial prejudice. While Shakespeare may have sourced the plot from Cinthio, it is the language, character development, and emotional depth that Shakespeare introduced that distinguishes Othello as a unique work. The Bard of Avon often drew from existing stories, like those by Plutarch for Julius Caesar or Holinshed's Chronicles for the Scottish play Macbeth. However, Shakespeare's mastery of language and dramatic structure imbued these tales with a new life, making them his own.