Original: But I do think it is their husbands’ faults
Modern: But I believe it’s the husbands who are to blame

Original: If wives do fall: say that they slack their duties,
Modern: If wives cheat: let’s say the husbands neglect their responsibilities,

Original: And pour our treasures into foreign laps,
Modern: And give their love and attention to other women,

Original: Or else break out in peevish jealousies,
Modern: Or they become unreasonably jealous,

Original: Throwing restraint upon us; or say they strike us,
Modern: Controlling and restricting us; or they hit us,

Original: Or scant our former having in despite;
Modern: Or they reduce what they used to give us out of spite;

Original: Why, we have galls, and though we have some grace,
Modern: Well, we have feelings and can be bitter, and though we try to be good,

Original: Yet have we some revenge. Let husbands know
Modern: We still want to get even. Husbands should understand

Original: Their wives have sense like them: they see and smell
Modern: That their wives have the same senses they do: we can see and smell

Original: And have their palates both for sweet and sour,
Modern: And we can taste both pleasure and pain,

Original: As husbands have. What is it that they do
Modern: Just like husbands can. So what exactly are they doing

Original: When they change us for others? Is it sport?
Modern: When they trade us in for other women? Is it just for fun?

Original: I think it is: and doth affection breed it?
Modern: I think it is: and does desire cause this behavior?

Original: I think it doth: is’t frailty that thus errs?
Modern: I think it does: is it human weakness that makes them stray?

Original: It is so too: and have not we affections,
Modern: Yes, that too: and don’t we also have desires,

Original: Desires for sport, and frailty, as men have?
Modern: Want for pleasure, and the same weaknesses that men have?

Original: Then let them use us well: else let them know,
Modern: So they should treat us right: or they should know,

Original: The ills we do, their ills instruct us so.
Modern: The wrong things we do, we learned from watching them.

In Act IV, Scene 3 of Othello, Desdemona prepares for bed in her chamber while conversing with Emilia, her waiting woman. Othello has commanded that she dismiss Emilia and await him, which creates an atmosphere of foreboding. As Emilia helps Desdemona undress, Desdemona becomes melancholy and speaks of her mother’s maid, Barbary, who died singing a song called “Willow” after being forsaken by her lover. Despite Emilia’s attempts to distract her, Desdemona cannot shake the haunting melody from her mind and sings portions of the mournful ballad herself.

The scene continues with a philosophical discussion between the two women about marital fidelity and adultery. Emilia argues pragmatically that women’s infidelities often stem from their husbands’ neglect or mistreatment, suggesting that men and women are equally capable of betrayal and should be judged by the same standards. Desdemona, maintaining her innocence and idealism, cannot fathom being unfaithful to Othello regardless of circumstances. The scene concludes with Desdemona praying that she might learn from others’ weaknesses rather than follow their example, while Emilia departs, leaving Desdemona alone to await her husband’s arrival.

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.