Othello ends with three deaths in the final scene: Desdemona, smothered by her husband, Emilia, stabbed by Iago, and Othello himself, who stabs himself beside his wife's body after discovering that he was deceived. Iago survives, imprisoned and saying nothing more.
In Act V, Scene 2, Othello enters the room, kisses the sleeping Desdemona, accuses her of having given the handkerchief to Cassio and smothers her, without accepting her denial. When Emilia arrives, Desdemona says she dies without guilt and, asked who was responsible, answers: "Nobody. I myself. Farewell." Othello confesses: "It was I who killed her."
Othello says it was Iago who told him of the betrayal, and Emilia, though ordered by her husband to be silent, reveals that she found the handkerchief by chance and gave it to Iago, who had asked her several times to steal it. Iago stabs her and flees, and Emilia dies telling Othello that Desdemona was chaste.
Iago is brought in as a prisoner, and Othello wounds him without killing him. Lodovico shows the letters found in Roderigo's pocket, takes command from Othello, which passes to Cassio, and orders that Iago be kept alive for torment. Othello asks that they speak of him "as I am", recalls his services to Venice, and stabs himself, dying with a kiss on Desdemona.