ENGL 40244 - Shakespeare and Political Theory

Institution:

University of Notre Dame

Subject:

English

Description:

This course uses Shakespeare as the focal point for an inquiry into the relationship between literature and political theory, broadly understood. We will read a range of plays across the major genres-- The Merchant of Venice, Richard II, Troilus and Cressida, Hamlet, Measure for Measure, King Lear, Othello, Cymbeline, The Tempest-- in order to consider how Shakespeare manages the following topics: the tension between retribution and the rule of law, the nature of political community and the limits of pluralism, the emergent idea of the nation, the limits of human dignity and the political character of the household. We will thicken our inquiry by pairing a few of the plays with contemporary legal or literary works: Othello with Tayeb Salih's Season of Migration to the North, Measure for Measure with Lawrence v. Texas (2004), The Merchant of Venice with R. vs. JFS School (2009), The Tempest with Shakespeare Behind Bars. Course text will be The Complete Pelican Shakespeare, eds. Orgel and Braunmuller.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.nd.edu

Phone Number:

(574) 631-5000

Regional Accreditation:

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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