“The Taming of the Shrew” is one of Shakespeare’s problem plays because it seems to endorse Kate signing on to a male domination fantasy. Modern productions such as the Synetic Theater’s non-verbal version have to make adjustments to satisfy modern audiences.
Tag Archives: William Shakespeare
Resolving Shakespeare’s Shrew Problem
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged marital relationships, Marriage, misogyny, problem plays, Sexism, Taming of the Shrew Comments closed
“Julius Caesar” Is Only Too Relevant
“Julius Caesar” has been showing up in the news recently, and for good reason. New York leads off with the play this summer in “Shakespeare in the Park” (the political parallels are overwhelming) and there is an “Ides of Trump” postcard writing campaign scheduled for March 15.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Donald Trump, Julius Caesar, Paul Waldman, Russiagate, Shakespeare in the Park, Trumpism Comments closed
Climate Change, Fairies Fighting
Some of the extreme climate events we are currently experiencing are described in “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” where they are the result of fairy infighting
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Bacchae, climate change, Donald Trump, Euripides, Midsummer Night's Dream, pollution Comments closed
Shakespeare Would Support Transgenders
As Donald Trump rolls back transgender protections, it’s worth going back to Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” which honors the sense that many have (not just transgender individuals) that they have the other gender hidden away beneath their exteriors.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Donald Trump, LGBTQ rights, transgender rights, Twelfth Night Comments closed
The Ugliness of Racial Resentment
“The Merchant of Venice” is a story of resentment and thus is only too relevant in today’s political landscape of inflamed passion. Those who have been victimized–or who feel that they have been victimized–are only too ready to stick it to others when they are in power.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged anti-Semitism, Donald Trump, Merchant of Venice, resentment Comments closed
After Surgery, World Is No Longer a Monet
My brain is still trying to adjust to my new eye following cataract surgery, which has me thinking of various passages about seeing in “Midsummer Night’s Dream.” My having an operation, I also opted for a different path than Claude Monet, at least according to this wonderful Lisa Mueller poem.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Monet Refuses the Operation", cataract surgery, eyes, Lisa Mueller, Midsummer Night's Dream Comments closed
My Cataract Surgery Recalls Oedipus, Lear
Recent cataract surgery had me recalling all those literary passages where sharp objects get poked into people’s eyes. The real drama, however, was renegotiating my professional identity.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged cataract surgery, eyes, King Lear, Medicine, Oedipus, Sophocles Comments closed
Aristotle Changed the Way Europe Thought
In “Aristotle’s Children,” Richard Rubenstein gets us to rethink the Faith-Reason and Religion-Science splits. When Aristotle revolutionized the High Middle Ages, Church leaders and thinkers tried to reconcile the tensions. Knowing this has me rethinking Marlowe, Shakespeare, and Donne.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Aristotle, Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus, High Middle Ages, John Donne, Plato, scholasticism Comments closed
