Patrick Page on Iago — Julian Girdham

In Ireland, there are 1000s of pupils now embarking on a study of Othello, for the Leaving Certificate in 2022. It’s well-worth checking out the Othello 2020 project from Red Bull Theater from New York, which is

a multi-part initiative of Red Bull Theater to provide an engaging and educational experience for all who are interested in Shakespeare’s Othello and and its relationship to the world in which we live today … [and] is seeking to deepen our exploration and understanding of the intersection of race and classical theater.

An excellent start is to watch Patrick Page talking about Iago in this conversation with Nathan Winkelstein.

The springboard for Page’s thoughts is Iago’s first soliloquy (of seven), in which he reveals to the audience his contempt for the ‘snipe’ Roderigo, in Act I scene iii (‘Thus do I ever make my fool my purse” - full text below the YouTube video).

Watch out for ideas on key individual words and phrases: ‘ever’, ‘I hate the Moor’, ‘I know not if’t be true’, ‘plume’, ‘will’, as well as observations on psychopathy and much else. It’s a rich resource.

[teachers: some ‘language’ warnings in case you want to show parts to your pupils]

IAGO (alone)

Thus do I ever make my fool my purse:
For I mine own gain'd knowledge should profane,
If I would time expend with such a snipe.
But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor:
And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets
He has done my office: I know not if't be true;
But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
Will do as if for surety. He holds me well;
The better shall my purpose work on him.
Cassio's a proper man: let me see now:
To get his place and to plume up my will
In double knavery--How, how? Let's see:--
After some time, to abuse Othello's ear
That he is too familiar with his wife.
He hath a person and a smooth dispose
To be suspected, framed to make women false.
The Moor is of a free and open nature,
That thinks men honest that but seem to be so,
And will as tenderly be led by the nose
As asses are.
I have't. It is engender'd. Hell and night
Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light.