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Fall 2024
Shakespeare and the Popular Voice
Tyrannic Voices in Shakespeare
The upcoming seminars, open to the public and higher education, will delve into the intriguing theme of tyranny in Shakespeare’s plays. We will focus on three plays and characters in particular: King Leontes- The Winter’s Tale, Macbeth- Macbeth, and Emperor Saturninus- Titus Andronicus. I’m sure these discussions will be both enlightening and engaging.
While Shakespeare’s peers thought the theater to be a place of indoctrination to the masses at the service of the crown, Shakespeare’s plays uniquely expose the ambiguities and the weaknesses of the power structure that subjugated the popular voices- beginning with the Monarchy and the king in particular; ruler of the realm. What is important to understand is the nature of the tyrant and the power structure in which he operates, which allows his voice to prevail over those of his retinue and commoners. By pointing at the form subjugation takes, the plays bring forth a new awareness of what suppresses or limits our self-expression while offering possible alternate governance and outcomes.
Shakespeare asked probing questions about his Kings: Who is the tyrant? What is behind the mask of a tyrant? What is the web of influences that enables him to achieve power? Is there a way out of such ensnarement? Is the ruler himself a victim, too human? Shakespeare laid bare the fragility of humankind’s perceived control over its environment. In this knowing, there is enfranchisement.
On this journey of discernment about what and who rules us, in these discussions, we will define tyrant and tyranny and other general terms useful for the discussion. We will situate Shakespeare in conversation with contemporary thinkers such as Michel de Montaigne, Niccolò Machiavelli, and Etienne de la Boétie, for instance, and look at how Shakespeare deferred from them, thereby understanding his originality of perspective that he illustrates in The Winter’s Tale, Titus Andronicus and Macbeth.
Key terms: theatre-monarchy-tyranny-
Where: Hadley Library
When: Mondays: 5 pm to 6:30 pm from September 9th to December 9th, 2024
Dates:
September: 9th-Introduction, 16,23,30
October: 7, 14,21,28
November: 4,11,18
November: 25th-December 2nd Thanksgiving Recess
December: 4, 9
Pacing: One play every four weeks.
Modality: In-person and Zoom-hybrid format
Important Details:
- Please download the SLACK app to access reading materials and bring your laptop.
I am happy help set up SLACK during the first week of class. - Extra readings will be posted on SLACK. Although not required, these materials will
enhance our understanding of the context in which these plays were written. - Feel free to attend the discussions on one, two, or three plays and register
accordingly. As constructed, the plays in this program “speak” to one another, providing
an arc of study and allowing different facets of the topic to emerge and explore.
However, coming to study one play will provide threads to investigate at your own pace.