OTHELLO, Act 2, Scene 1 - Iago’s Monologue

Original: Do thou meet me presently at the harbour.
Modern: Meet me right away at the harbor.

Original: Come hither.
Modern: Come here.

Original: If thou be’st valiant,— as, they say, base men being in love have then a nobility in their natures more than is native to them—list me.
Modern: If you’re brave—because they say that even common men have a kind of nobility in them when they’re in love that they don’t normally have—listen to me.

Original: The lieutenant tonight watches on the court of guard:—first, I must tell thee this—Desdemona is directly in love with him.
Modern: The lieutenant is on guard duty tonight—but first, I have to tell you this—Desdemona is completely in love with him.

Original: Lay thy finger thus, and let thy soul be instructed.
Modern: Put your finger to your lips and let me teach you something.

Original: Mark me with what violence she first loved the Moor, but for bragging and telling her fantastical lies:
Modern: Pay attention to how passionately she first loved the Moor, just because he bragged and told her wild stories:

Original: and will she love him still for prating? let not thy discreet heart think it.
Modern: and will she still love him for his endless talking? Don’t let your smart mind believe it.

Original: Her eye must be fed; and what delight shall she have to look on the devil?
Modern: Her eyes need to be satisfied; and what pleasure will she get from looking at the devil?

Original: When the blood is made dull with the act of sport, there should be, again to inflame it and to give satiety a fresh appetite, loveliness in favour, sympathy in years, manners and beauties;
Modern: When the passion grows dull from physical pleasure, there should be—to rekindle it and renew desire—attractiveness in appearance, similar age, compatible manners and good looks;

Original: all which the Moor is defective in:
Modern: all of which the Moor lacks:

Original: now, for want of these required conveniences, her delicate tenderness will find itself abused, begin to heave the gorge, disrelish and abhor the Moor;
Modern: now, without these necessary qualities, her refined sensibility will feel betrayed, begin to feel sick, lose her taste for him and hate the Moor;

Original: very nature will instruct her in it and compel her to some second choice.
Modern: nature itself will teach her this and force her to choose someone else.

Original: Now, sir, this granted,—as it is a most pregnant and unforced position—who stands so eminent in the degree of this fortune as Cassio does?
Modern: Now, sir, accepting this—since it’s a very obvious and natural conclusion—who is in a better position to benefit from this situation than Cassio?

Original: a knave very voluble; no further conscionable than in putting on the mere form of civil and humane seeming, for the better compassing of his salt and most hidden loose affection?
Modern: a scoundrel who talks smoothly; whose conscience only goes as far as pretending to be polite and proper, the better to achieve his lustful and secret sexual desires?

Original: why, none; why, none:
Modern: why, nobody; why, nobody:

Original: a slipper and subtle knave, a finder of occasions, that has an eye can stamp and counterfeit advantages, though true advantage never present itself;
Modern: a slippery and cunning scoundrel, someone who finds opportunities, who has an eye that can create and fake advantages, even when no real advantage exists;

Original: a devilish knave.
Modern: a devilish scoundrel.

Original: Besides, the knave is handsome, young, and hath all those requisites in him that folly and green minds look after:
Modern: Besides, the scoundrel is handsome, young, and has all those qualities that foolish and inexperienced minds are attracted to:

Original: a pestilent complete knave; and the woman hath found him already.
Modern: a thoroughly rotten scoundrel; and the woman has already noticed him.

In Act II, Scene 1 of Othello, the action moves to Cyprus where Montano, the island’s governor, discusses the severe storm at sea with two gentlemen. They observe that the Turkish fleet has likely been destroyed by the tempest, which has also delayed the arrival of Othello’s ships. Cassio arrives first, having been separated from Othello during the voyage, and expresses concern for his general’s safety. Shortly after, Iago arrives with Desdemona, Emilia, and Roderigo. Desdemona anxiously awaits news of her husband’s welfare, while Iago engages in witty but somewhat cynical banter about women’s nature to distract her from her worries.

Othello finally arrives safely and is joyfully reunited with Desdemona in an emotional scene where he expresses his overwhelming happiness at seeing her again. The immediate crisis of the storm and potential Turkish invasion has passed, creating a moment of celebration and relief. However, while the others rejoice, Iago begins plotting his revenge against Othello, speaking in soliloquy about his suspicions regarding Desdemona’s faithfulness and his plan to use Cassio as an instrument of destruction. The scene concludes with Iago manipulating the lovesick Roderigo, convincing him that Desdemona will eventually tire of Othello and turn her affections toward Cassio, thus encouraging Roderigo to continue pursuing her and funding Iago’s schemes.

Othello opens in Venice, where the Moorish general Othello has secretly married Desdemona, the daughter of the Venetian senator Brabantio. When Iago, Othello’s ensign who harbors deep resentment for being passed over for promotion in favor of Cassio, reveals this marriage to Brabantio, the senator accuses Othello of using witchcraft to seduce his daughter. However, when the Duke of Venice summons Othello to lead the Venetian forces against a Turkish invasion of Cyprus, Desdemona herself testifies that she married Othello willingly out of love. The Duke dismisses Brabantio’s charges, and Othello departs for Cyprus with Desdemona, Iago, and his officers.

Once in Cyprus, the Turkish fleet is destroyed by a storm, but Iago begins executing his plan for revenge. He manipulates Cassio into a drunken brawl that results in Cassio’s demotion, then convinces Cassio to seek Desdemona’s help in regaining Othello’s favor. Iago uses these innocent meetings between Desdemona and Cassio as evidence to plant seeds of jealousy in Othello’s mind, suggesting that his wife is having an affair with the former lieutenant. To strengthen his deception, Iago arranges for Othello to overhear him speaking suggestively with Cassio about Bianca, Cassio’s mistress, while Othello believes they are discussing Desdemona.

The manipulation reaches its climax when Iago obtains Desdemona’s handkerchief—Othello’s first gift to her—through his wife Emilia, who serves as Desdemona’s attendant. Iago plants the handkerchief in Cassio’s chambers and later shows it to Othello as proof of the affair. Consumed by jealousy and convinced of Desdemona’s infidelity, Othello smothers her in their bed. When Emilia discovers the murder, she reveals Iago’s treachery before he kills her. Othello, realizing he has murdered his innocent wife, stabs himself and dies beside Desdemona. Iago is arrested, Cassio is appointed to govern Cyprus, and Iago is taken away to face torture and execution for his crimes.