PULS
Foto: Matthias Friel
Traditionally, tragedy revolves around the actions and fates of nobles and monarchs. In prioritizing an elevated social stratum, this economy of attention inscribes, from the outset, asymmetrical power relations on tragedy. This course will explore some of the many forms and meanings of this constitutive element in three plays by William Shakespeare: Othello, King Lear, and Antony and Cleopatra. For one thing, discussions will focus on problems of rank and hierarchy, such as obedience, racialization, gendered violence, and the downfall of political structures. But if those issues variously instantiate power, the latter’s analysis remains incomplete without also minding the affective and motivational factors which bring them about in the first place, such as manipulation and jealousy. Equally, we will concern ourselves with factors and actions that resist or thwart the exercise of power, from nonhuman nature to suicide. By bringing together those three thematic foci, we will attempt to understand how Shakespearean tragedy both represents and presupposes the strictures and cruelties of staunchly hierarchical societies.
Please purchase:OthelloKing LearAntony and CleopatraAny of the countless editions available for each of the texts will do. However, I highly recommend the Arden editions of each tragedy, which, by providing a plethora of insightful annotations, can significantly mitigate the difficulty of reading these early modern texts. The Arden editions should prove useful especially to those who haven’t been exposed to early modern English literature yet.
Over the course of the seminar, students will write a learning journal consisting of reading responses and reflections on class discussions (3 credits). To gain 6 credits, students will additionally submit a term paper. Regular attendance and active participation are vital to creating a fruitful learning atmosphere. So, please sign up for this class only if you intend to actually come to our sessions.
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