About the lecture

In this module, we explore the opening scene of the play, in which Iago converses with Roderigo, up to the end of Iago’s long speech at lines 40-64 (“I follow him to serve my turn upon him”). In particular, we think about character of both Roderigo and Iago, Iago’s motivations for hating Othello, his comments on proper vs. improper authority (“We cannot all be masters, nor all masters | Cannot be truly followed”, 42-43), and the theme of ‘seeming’ (i.e. pretending) vs. actually being. (“Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty | But seeming so”, 58-59).

About the lecturer

John McRae is Special Professor of Language in Literature Studies and Teaching Associate in the School of English at Nottingham University, and holds Visiting Professorships in China, Malaysia, Spain and the USA. He is co-author of The Routledge History of Literature in English with Ron Carter, and also wrote The Language of Poetry, Literature with a Small 'l' and the first critical edition of Teleny by Oscar Wilde and others.