University of Virginia professor Paul Cantor, curator of the Shakespeare and Politics website (thegreatthinker...) in the first of three lectures on Antony and Cleopatra.
Prof. Cantor, Thank you so much for your very insightful and passionate lectures. They add so much to my understanding and appreciation of Shakespeare. Thank you, thank you. Mille grazie. 🎭🔰🎶🍷 M 🌷🌹🌷🌹🌷
Shakespeare assembled a company of the best and brightest actors to perform in a theater owned at least in part by others. Add to that direction, production, and transitory entertainments, and it becomes hard to swallow the idea that Shakespeare really had any insights into absolute power.
@@jackcooper3307 Professor Cantor's central thesis in this course is that Shakespeare can be studied as a political philosopher. However, it requires some proof that Shakespeare had an education and position in life where those thoughts could develop.
@@jamesduggan7200 Shakespeare's education is widely known and discussed in sketch in the No Fear Shakespeare Companion book. I'm sure you can find it elsewhere too
@@soludsnak Well, perhaps one can receive an education that prepares one for observations of those with Caesar-like power. I don't think that Shakespeare did. My experience with power is that in tends to be inscrutable and secretive. Thus, it is one thing for Claudius, Marcus Aurelius, or Churchill to write history, and something else for Shakespeare.
I am frequently moved to my core by Shakespeare. But Anthony and Cleopatra left me cold. Two unappealing narcissists and their underwhelming Wagnerian Liebestod. Check, please.
Fascinating insights. This series has reinvigorated my interest in Shakespeare.
Prof. Cantor,
Thank you so much for your very insightful and passionate lectures. They add so much to my understanding and appreciation of Shakespeare. Thank you, thank you. Mille grazie. 🎭🔰🎶🍷
M 🌷🌹🌷🌹🌷
I just finished it! Thanks for motivating me with your excellent lectures
I feel so grateful for this. Fantastic.
These are really good talks.
this is so good, so many doubts during reading make much more sense
Sir please said act 1 scene 1
First time I've ever heard of Octavia used as an example of tragedy in A+C, but if it works, why not?
Shakespeare assembled a company of the best and brightest actors to perform in a theater owned at least in part by others. Add to that direction, production, and transitory entertainments, and it becomes hard to swallow the idea that Shakespeare really had any insights into absolute power.
What are you talking about?
@@jackcooper3307 Professor Cantor's central thesis in this course is that Shakespeare can be studied as a political philosopher. However, it requires some proof that Shakespeare had an education and position in life where those thoughts could develop.
@@jamesduggan7200 Shakespeare's education is widely known and discussed in sketch in the No Fear Shakespeare Companion book. I'm sure you can find it elsewhere too
@@soludsnak Well, perhaps one can receive an education that prepares one for observations of those with Caesar-like power. I don't think that Shakespeare did. My experience with power is that in tends to be inscrutable and secretive. Thus, it is one thing for Claudius, Marcus Aurelius, or Churchill to write history, and something else for Shakespeare.
The histories of Plutarch, Herodotus and others were likely read by Shakespeare and were the sources of many of the Roman Republic/Empire plays
I am frequently moved to my core by Shakespeare. But Anthony and Cleopatra left me cold. Two unappealing narcissists and their underwhelming Wagnerian Liebestod. Check, please.
1:14:10 "ain't it the sooth"