Fine Arts

Shakespeare on Monarchs, Rebellion, and Usurpation

ABSTRACT

Shakespeare's thoughts on liberty and responsibility often finds dramatic focus in his plays that deal with the killing of monarchs. In addition to posing a course of considerations on political liberty, each of the dramas in this conference provoked one to think about human freedom in its metaphysical nature: that is to say, each pondered the question, "To what extent do human agents exercise free choice?"

READING LIST

Conference Readings

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet [The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark]. Edited by A. R. Braunmuller. New York: Penguin Putnam, Inc., 2001.

Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar [The Tragedy of Julius Caesar]. Edited by William Montgomery. New York: Penguin Group, 2000.

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth [The Tragedy of Macbeth]. Edited by Stephen Orgel. New York: Penguin Classics, 2000.