Trifles Light As Air

Posted on Mon Oct 23rd, 2023 @ 1:43 by Jonathan Monroe & Mia Misati

Chapter: All Hallow's Eve
Location: English Classroom
Timeline: November 8th
890 words - 1.8 OF Standard Post Measure

"Despise me, if I do not. Three great ones of the city,
In personal suit to make me his lieutenant,
Off-capp'd to him: and, by the faith of man,
I know my price, I am worth no worse a place:I know my price, I am no worse a place."

Jonathan stepped slowly between the desks of the English class with the text open in his hand.

"Iago, one of the most devious and intelligent of Shakespeare's creations. Frustrated about being passed-over for a promotion he feels he deserves, despite having three other 'great ones' - nobles - pushing his case to their General." He paused at the front of the classroom, examining the expressions of the gathered students. "What do we think? Is he right to feel aggrieved?"

There were murmurs and wayward glances from his audience, which in some ways didn't surprise him. Since the attack, some of them had felt like returning to classes wasn't the best way to deal with their problems.

"Sounds like Othello doesn't trust him," came a muttered comment that he picked-out from near the back of class.

"Mia," Jonathan met her eye. "Why wouldn't Othello trust him? They're both veterans of battle. They've fought together for years. Surely he knows the man well enough," he postulated.

"Right. So why does he pick this other guy? Cassio."

"Iago himself tells us why: the man is more scholarly; he's a thinker, not a man of quick action. Someone who isn't made for battle but for peacemaking." Jonathan put the book down, seeing if the debate would pique any further interest.

"Seems like a bad move, then - Iago is clearly the better choice. He shows it by the way he works people."

"Iago is clever, yes. But manipulative and uncaring. With very questionable morals," Jon pointed-out.

"Maybe he's justified." Mia's comment surprised him. He did his best not to show it, however, as the conversation might prove fruitful in helping the rest of the class unpick the literature. "He proved he was smarter than Cassio. And that idiot Roderigo. And he played Othello the whole time. He's clearly smarter than the rest of them."

"Perhaps," Jon nodded. "But he uses that talent for selfish purposes. And he harms a lot of people with it."

"It's not like anyone else was going to stick up for him..." Mia retorted. "What about us? We're supposed to accept it when people who can't do what we can do decide that they can judge us? We're better than most of them anyway."

Jonathan paused. The conversation had shifted away from Shakespeare and back to a more contemporary issue. And clearly, from the looks of the other students, he wasn't the only one who had picked up on it. He carefully folded his hands together, taking on a serious but gentle tone.

"Better. We're 'better' than them." He echoed the young woman's own words. "But why should honour outlive honesty?" he said softly, almost to himself than for their benefit. "As much as I appreciate the...difficulties we have all faced recently, it's important to remember that we are all stronger together. Unified. As much as one would have us turn on those deemed 'oppressor', we would end up as twisted and false as Shakespeare's villain. No - we're not better than anyone, Miss Misati. More dangerous, perhaps. But not better."

"For some people that would be the same thing, though. Wouldn't it, Mr Monroe?" the girl answered, her face showing visible uncertainty.

"For some," Jonathan agreed. He knew how that mindset came about. Prejudice was one of the themes of the chosen text, which was part of the reason he had chosen it in the first place. After a moment of quiet he tapped the book on his desk. "Iago is intended to be a cautionary tale, after all. A tragedy." He shook his head, sensing that the conversation had indeed slipped away from its original intent. "Well, I hope this gives plenty of food for thought. Next week we'll be digging into the Bard's imagery in this play a little more, but that's all for today. Class dismissed."

He took his seat as the students began to file out. Mia was among the last to leave, tentatively approaching him as the last of her classmates departed.

"Mr Monroe?" she queried. "I hope you didn't think I was too abrupt..."

"On the contrary, Miss Misati. I appreciate a student that asks questions." He offered as warm a smile as he could muster. "Debating Shakespeare is a great way of unpicking some of the issues we too face even in the modern day. I'd encourage you to keep pursuing those answers in your own time."

"Thank you, sir." She gave a little bow and hurried out of the room, likely a little embarrassed at having to have had the conversation in the first place.

Jonathan leaned back, staring silently down at the closed book on his desk. It was strange to consider the parallels of a fictional general with the life of a young individual blessed with immeasurable gifts. Sadly, he conceded, many things in the world appeared unchanging. With one final sigh, he closed his eyes.

"Men should be what they seem, Or those that be not, would they might seem none..."