Original: Think’st thou I’ld make a lie of jealousy,
Modern: Do you think I would create false jealousy,

Original: To follow still the changes of the moon
Modern: To change my suspicions as constantly as the moon changes,

Original: With fresh suspicions? No; to be once in doubt
Modern: With new accusations every night? No; once I have doubts

Original: Is once to be resolved: exchange me for a goat,
Modern: I will settle them immediately: turn me into a mindless animal

Original: When I shall turn the business of my soul
Modern: If I ever make the main concern of my life

Original: To such exsufflicate and blown surmises,
Modern: Such empty and inflated suspicions,

Original: Matching thy inference. ‘Tis not to make me jealous
Modern: Based on your hints. It won’t make me jealous

Original: To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company,
Modern: To say that my wife is beautiful, enjoys good food, likes being social,

Original: Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances well;
Modern: Speaks her mind openly, sings, makes music and dances well;

Original: Where virtue is, these are more virtuous:
Modern: When a woman has virtue, these qualities make her even more virtuous:

Original: Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw
Modern: And I won’t conclude from my own shortcomings

Original: The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt;
Modern: Any fear or suspicion that she would be unfaithful;

Original: For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago;
Modern: Because she could see clearly, and she chose me. No, Iago;

Original: I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
Modern: I’ll need to see evidence before I doubt; when I doubt, I’ll seek proof;

Original: And on the proof, there is no more but this,—
Modern: And once I have proof, there’s only one thing left to do,—

Original: Away at once with love or jealousy!
Modern: Get rid of either my love or my jealousy immediately!

Act III, Scene iii of Othello takes place in the garden of the citadel in Cyprus and opens with Desdemona promising Cassio that she will advocate on his behalf to Othello for his reinstatement. As Othello and Iago approach, Cassio departs, and Iago seizes the moment to plant the first seeds of suspicion in Othello’s mind, remarking cryptically on Cassio’s hasty exit. Desdemona proceeds to make her case to Othello, pressing him warmly to restore Cassio to his position. Othello, clearly devoted to Desdemona, agrees to hear Cassio’s case, and Desdemona exits satisfied. Iago then begins his calculated manipulation in earnest, probing Othello with leading questions about the nature of Cassio’s relationship with Desdemona, carefully feigning reluctance to share his apparent concerns.

As the scene progresses, Iago steadily escalates his insinuations, warning Othello against the dangers of jealousy and describing it as a “green-eyed monster.” Despite Othello’s initial assertions of confidence in Desdemona’s faithfulness, Iago’s subtle and relentless suggestions begin to take hold. Emilia retrieves a handkerchief that Desdemona has dropped — a handkerchief that was Othello’s first gift to Desdemona — and gives it to Iago, who intends to use it as false evidence against her. By the scene’s end, Iago has so thoroughly poisoned Othello’s mind that Othello demands proof of Desdemona’s infidelity, and Iago fabricates a story involving Cassio speaking Desdemona’s name in his sleep. Othello, now consumed by rage and jealousy, vows revenge, and Iago pledges his service to that cause.

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.