Hello everyone and welcome to your lesson on reading Act one: Scene one of "Othello." I'm Miss Sutherland, and I'll be teaching you today.

I'm really looking forward to starting to read this play with you.

In today's lesson, you'll be exploring how an audience might respond to the character of Iago in the opening scene.

So we'll be reading Act one: Scene one of "Othello" and we'll be looking in particular, at Iago, and how he's presented in the beginning of this play.

Here are our five key words for today's lesson.

I'll walk you through the definitions.

Elope.

Elope means to run away secretly to get married, and that's what Othello and Desdemona do at the beginning of this play.

In fact, it's already happened before the play starts and we see the characters discussing it in the opening scene.

Malcontent.

Malcontent is a person who is dissatisfied and complaining.

Visage.

A visage is a person's face or an image of something.

We usually use the term visage to describe how someone appears.

Bigot, a bigot is someone prejudiced and or antagonistic or hostile against a particular group.

And lastly, diabolical.

Diabolical means suggestive of the devil.

I'll give you a moment to jot down any of those keywords, especially those you haven't come across before.

Great, let's move on.

So in today's lesson we'll start by reading Act one: Scene one of "Othello." We'll read the exposition of the play, and then in the second learning cycle we'll dig deeper into Iago's presentation and we'll think about what kind of character he's presented as.

So let's get started with reading Act one: Scene one of "Othello." So in today's lesson we'll be reading "Othello" and we are going to start by reading Act one: Scene one.

I want you to have a think, what part of the five-act structure will this fall under? Pause the video and have a think.

Well done, I heard most of you saying that Act one: Scene one will fall under the exposition of the play.

I am going to summarise Act one: Scene one for you so you can have a better understanding as you read through it.

Because some of the language is quite complex so it's better to have an idea of what's happening beforehand.

So in Act one: Scene one, it's set in Venice.

Iago tells Roderigo of his hatred for Othello, who has given Cassio the lieutenancy that Iago wanted.

And at Iago's suggestion, he and Roderigo, a former suitor to Desdemona, awake Desdemona's father, Brabantio, to tell him that Desdemona has eloped with Othello.

So of course, Iago has only bad intentions when he tells Brabantio that his daughter has run away and got married.

Let's start reading.

So in this scene they're talking about Othello.

Roderigo says, "I would not follow him then." And Iago replies, "O, sir, content you, I follow him to serve my turn upon him.

We cannot all be masters, nor all masters cannot be truly followed.

You shall mark many a duteous and knee-crooking knave, that doting on his own of obsequious bondage, wears out his time, much like his master's ass, for naught but provender, and when he's old, cashiered, whip me such honest knaves.

Others there are who, trimmed in forms and visages of duty, keep yet their hearts attending on themselves and throwing but shows of service on their lords, do well thrive by them.

And when they have lined," so at this moment where Iago says, "there are others who, trimmed in forms and visages of duty, keeps their heart attending on themselves," he's basically saying he will appear dutiful towards his general, Othello.

He will have a visage of duty, an appearance of duty.

But deep down he will only care, he will only attend on himself.

Let's continue the reading.

"And when they have lined their coats, do themselves homage.

These fellows have some soul, and such a one do I profess myself, for sir, it is as sure as you are Roderigo, were I the Moor, I would not be a Iago; in following him, I followed but myself.

Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty, but seeming so for my peculiar end.

For when my outward action doth demonstrate the native act and figure of my heart in complement extern, 'tis not long after but I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at.

I am not what I am." How does Iago introduce the theme of disorder in this section? Pay close attention to what he says about himself.

Pause the video and discuss that question.

Well done, I heard lots of people say that Iago is almost talking in riddles here.

He says, "in following him I follow but myself." So what he's saying is that he's only doing something for how it looks.

He's trying to appear loyal, appear dutiful, but deep down he only cares about himself, he's only doing that to serve himself.

So we can see here how he's being very duplicitous.

He's hiding his true intentions, which could definitely cause disorder because people will trust him when he's not trustworthy.

And then he says, "I am not what I am." Again, he's speaking in riddles.

He's saying that whatever he appears to be, he is not actually.

Let's zoom into that phrase, "I am not what I am." In the Bible, God says, "I am that I am." So how is Iago's claim here diabolical? How is his claim, " I am not what I am," suggestive of the devil? Pause the video and discuss that question.

I heard some of you say that Iago's claim, "I am not what I am," parodies God's "I am that I am." It juxtaposes and is antithesis to God's "I am that I am." And we know that the antithesis of God is the devil, the opposition of God is the devil.

So by Iago parodying what God said, he presents himself as aligned almost, with the devil.

Let's carry on reading.

"What a full fortune does the thicklips owe if he can carry it thus." "Call up her father, rouse him, make after him, poison his delight, proclaim him in the streets, incense her kinsman.

And, though he in a fertile climate dwell, plague him with flies.

Though that his joy be joy, yet throw such changes of vexation on it, as it may lose some colour." "Here is her father's house, I'll call aloud." "Do, with like timorous accent and dire yell, as when by night and negligence the fire is spied in populous cities." What does the Iago plan to do here when he says, "Call up her father, rouse him, poison his delight," and how does this link to the theme of disorder? Pause the video and discuss that question.

Now, in this section, Iago is planning to tell Brabantio, Desdemona's father, what Desdemona has done, that she's eloped.

Now, this links to disorder quite clearly because Iago says, "rouse him, poison his delight, plague him with flies." So Iago is planning to do something that he knows will cause chaos.

He knows he is causing disorder in this moment, and yet he still does it.

That might tell us something about him as a character.

"What, ho, Brabantio! Signior Brabantio, ho!" "Awake! What, ho, Brabantio! Thieves, thieves, thieves, look to your house, your daughter and your bags! Thieves, thieves!" Brabantio appears above, at a window.

"What is the reason of this terrible summons? What is the matter there?" "Signior, is your family within?" "Are your door's locked?" "Why, wherefore ask you this?" "Zounds, sir, you're robbed for shame, put on your gown.

Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul.

Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is topping your white ewe.

Arise, arise, awake the snorting citizens with the bell, or else the devil will make a grandsire of you.

Arise, I say." "What, have you lost your wits?" "Most reverend signior, do you know my voice?" "Not I, what are you?" "My name is Roderigo." Now, in this highlighted section of text, Iago is talking about Othello and Desdemona.

Iago calls Othello a black ram, and Desdemona a white ewe, which is a female sheep.

How does the way in which he has presented Othello, Desdemona and their relationship reveal his bigotry? So how does the way in which he's described those two characters and the way they interact with each other, how does that reveal his prejudice towards people of colour and interracial relationships? Pause the video and have a think.

Now, that quote there reveals his bigotry because he's dehumanising Othello, using a derogatory term for him.

But also trying to say that Othello is taking advantage of Desdemona, and he knows nothing about their relationship.

So he's using his prejudice against people of colour, such as Othello, to inform the way he speaks of the relationship and how he explains it to Brabantio.

Let's continue with the reading.

Brabantio, "The worser welcome, I have charged thee not to haunt about my doors, in honest plainness thou has heard me say my daughter is not for thee.

And now, in madness, being full of supper and distempering draughts, upon malicious bravery dost thou come to start my quiet." Now, Roderigo has tried to woo Desdemona in the past so Brabantio knows Roderigo, and tells him that he doesn't want him to come to his house.

Roderigo replies, "Sir, sir, sir." "But thou must needs be sure my spirit and my place have in them power to make this bitter to thee." "Patience, good sir." "What tell'st thou me of robbing? This is Venice.

My house is not a grange." "Most grave Brabantio, in simple and pure soul I come to you." "Zounds sir, you are one of those that will not serve God if the devil bid you.

Because we come to do you service and you think we are ruffians, you'll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse, you'll have your nephew's neigh to you.

You'll have coursers for cousins and gennets for Germans." Again, here, we see Iago using a racial slur against Othello, comparing him to a horse.

Considering the Great Chain of Being, what does this reveal about Elizabethan racism and prejudice? Pause the video and have a think.

Now, the Great Chain of Being places animals below humans, and Iago compares Othello to an animal, he dehumanises him.

That is showing us that if Iago is to be taken as a representation of Elizabethan prejudice, it shows us that Elizabethan prejudice was very, very severe against people of colour.

It shows us that people of colour were dehumanised in Elizabethan society.

So Iago's language here, is very racist, very offensive.

Answer this question to show your understanding of the section we've just read.

How does Iago stir up disorder in Act one: Scene one? Pause the video and have a think.

Well done, if you said Iago stirs up disorder because firstly, he says he will appear loyal to Othello, but in his heart he will be the opposite.

And secondly, he tells Desdemona's father that she has eloped with Othello.

He knows that is going to cause commotion in Brabantio's mind and household.

You are now, going to read independently.

I want you to read from, "Enter below, Brabantio, and servants with torches," to the end of the scene.

Whilst you are reading, you have four questions to answer.

What does Brabantio find out? What does the quote in question number two show about Brabantio's feelings about the elopement? How does the quote in number three show how Iago has stirred up disorder in Brabantio's mind? And lastly, what does Brabantio decide to do next? Pause the video and continue with the reading.

Great reading everyone.

Let's go through the answers to those questions.

Brabantio finds out that Desdemona is not in her bedroom and thus, he realises that she has eloped, as per Iago's claims. Brabantio says, "Where did thou see her? O unhappy girl.

With the Moor, say'st thou? Who would be a father?" This quote shows that Brabantio is beginning worry about the whereabouts of his daughter, and also reveals his prejudice against Othello.

Brabantio says that she's an unhappy girl.

And the fact that she's gone with the Moor, who is Othello, he's saying who would want to be a father having their daughter run away with the Moor? He's not only revealing he's upset about her running away and getting married, but he's also revealing that he feels even more annoyed that she's married Othello.

And that shows the prejudice that was in the Elizabethan era at this time.

Question number three, "How got she out? O treason of the blood! Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters' minds by what you see them act." How does this quote show that Iago has stirred up disorder in Brabantio's mind? This quote shows disorder as he thinks his daughter has deceived him.

He's saying, oh, fathers don't trust your daughters, even if they look like they're being well-behaved and innocent, don't trust them because they're surely doing something else.

So that is how Iago has stirred up disorder in Brabantio's mind.

Brabantio now, does not trust his daughter.

What did Brabantio decide to do next? Brabantio decides to look for Othello with armed men now.

Well done on answering all those questions.

Now, we are going to move on to look at Iago's presentation now.

After reading Act one: Scene one, what do you think of Iago? Pause the video and have a think about that question.

Here are some of the ideas from other students.

June says, Iago seems diabolical.

So Iago seems like he's aligned with the devil.

Alex says, Iago seems malcontent so that he's dissatisfied with his own life.

Jacob says, that Iago seems like an agent of disorder, so someone who deliberately brings chaos to other characters' lives.

And Sophia says, that Iago is a bigot, after reading that scene.

Now, which student do you agree with and which student opened your eyes to a new idea? Pause the video and have a think about that.

Maybe you agree with them all.

It's not uncommon for Shakespeare to have a character who is multifaceted.

In other words, it's not uncommon for Shakespeare to have a character that could be seen in multiple ways.

And Iago is indeed, one of Shakespeare's most complex characters.

Now, these students want to write about Iago, but they need quotes.

They need the appropriate quotes to put with their ideas.

So can you help the students justify their ideas by matching the quotes with the correct idea? You have four ideas about Iago, and you have four quotes, but at the moment they're all mixed up.

So can you pause the video and match the idea to the correct quote? Off you go.

Let's go through the answers.

So the quote that proves Iago is diabolical, is "I am not what I am." And again, we said that's because God said, "I am that I am." So with Iago saying, "I am not what I am," he's parodying God, and he's making himself seem like the opposition to God, i.

e.

the devil.

Iago is presented as malcontent through the quote, "'Tis the curse of service.

Preferment goes by letter and affection." That quote shows he's malcontent because he's saying that this is the problem with serving someone, that they will prefer whoever they like, whoever they see more as a friend, they'll give them a promotion.

So that's the Iago complaining about not being promoted.

And that's the reason he thinks Cassio was promoted over him.

We know Iago is a bigot, through the quote, "you'll have your nephews neigh to you." So he's, in that quote, dehumanising Othello, showing immense prejudice and hostility and racism towards Othello because of his colour, because of his race.

And lastly, we know Iago is an agent of disorder because he says, "trimmed in visages of duty, keep yet their hearts attending on themselves." That quote shows he's an agent of disorder because he's willing to be duplicitous.

He's willing to appear loyal, but deep down be treacherous, and that will cause a lot of chaos and disorder later on in the play.

Well done on that task everyone.

I now, want you to write an answer to the question, how does Shakespeare present Iago as an agent of disorder in Act one: Scene one? Make sure to include an idea about Iago, so that he's an agent of disorder, quotes to justify your idea, single word analysis, the audience response to Iago and relevant contextual information including author intention.

Pause the video and start writing your answer to that question.

Great job, let's go through a possible answer that you may have given.

Shakespeare presents Iago as an agent of disorder in the opening scene of "Othello", which is fueled by his hatred for tragic hero Othello, who passed him over for a promotion.

Not only does Iago declare that he will fool Othello into believing he's loyal, but also decides to stir up chaos and disorder within Brabantio's mind.

Iago says he'll wear a "visage of duty," but keep his heart attending on himself.

The word visage, symbolises Iago's superficial loyalty, which does not translate to his inner feelings.

Iago thus is an agent of disorder because he manipulates appearance and reality through his desire to trick Othello.

This is significant since Othello's downfall is directly due to falling gullible to Iago's declarations of honesty and loyalty.

Secondly, Iago's malcontent fuels him to tell Desdemona's father that she eloped with Othello, so I'm giving another idea here.

Iago is clearly an agent of disorder here as he knows that in the prejudiced 16th century society he lives in, Desdemona's father will be uncomfortable with her interracial marriage.

This is confirmed when he uses racial slurs about Othello to unsettled Desdemona's father, comparing him to a wild animal such as ram and horse.

Iago is successful in creating disorder and chaos in Brabantio's mind, as Brabantio exclaims, "How got she out? O treason of the blood! Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters' minds by what you see them act." Shakespeare shows the chaos in his mind with exclamations and the confusion with question marks here, reveals that you cannot trust someone's true feelings by how they appear to be, linking back to Iago's manipulation of appearance versus reality.

From very early on, Shakespeare presents Iago firmly as the villain and someone the audience learn to quickly be weary of due to his purposeful disruption of harmony in the opening scene.

After reading that response, I want you to reread your own work.

Did you include everything? Pause the video and go through the checklist, making sure you've got everything in your paragraph.

Great job everyone, your focus has been incredible in today's lesson.

Here's what we've learned today.

Iago is an agent of disorder.

His motive is less important than the impact of his actions on the tragic hero.

Iago might be described as malcontent.

Iago's diabolical nature is established in the line, "I am not what I am," reflecting, reversal and disorder.

And Iago causes disorder in the mind of Brabantio by revealing his daughter's deceit.

Thanks for joining me in today's lesson.

I look forward to seeing you in the next one.