Location
Library 2032
Event Type
Presentation
Start Date
12-5-2025 6:25 PM
End Date
12-5-2025 7:25 PM
Description
During their reign, both King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I were ruthless in persecuting and executing those who publicly and privately challenged their legitimacy - such opposition was seen not only as treason to the British monarchy but as defiance of the divine will of God. Violence, bloodshed, and cruelty were a norm and custom in Tudor England. Although he began his career catering to the audiences' bloodthirsty appetite, William Shakespeare wrote his later plays exploring the human psyche, the gendered experiences of women, and subtle political criticisms. With the looming threat of tyranny in Julius Caesar to the impersonations of past monarchs in Richard II and Henry IV, it is tempting to ask whether Shakespeare meant to antagonize and criticize the English monarchy with the threat of beheading—did he really have a death wish? By exploring the historical context of Tudor censorship and the lesser-known aspects of Shakespeare's life, the research suggests Shakespeare was either a masterful writer who skillfully avoided royal persecution- or perhaps a ghost behind a pseudonym.
Faculty Sponsor: Professor Tom Tipton
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Does Shakespeare have a death wish?
Library 2032
During their reign, both King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I were ruthless in persecuting and executing those who publicly and privately challenged their legitimacy - such opposition was seen not only as treason to the British monarchy but as defiance of the divine will of God. Violence, bloodshed, and cruelty were a norm and custom in Tudor England. Although he began his career catering to the audiences' bloodthirsty appetite, William Shakespeare wrote his later plays exploring the human psyche, the gendered experiences of women, and subtle political criticisms. With the looming threat of tyranny in Julius Caesar to the impersonations of past monarchs in Richard II and Henry IV, it is tempting to ask whether Shakespeare meant to antagonize and criticize the English monarchy with the threat of beheading—did he really have a death wish? By exploring the historical context of Tudor censorship and the lesser-known aspects of Shakespeare's life, the research suggests Shakespeare was either a masterful writer who skillfully avoided royal persecution- or perhaps a ghost behind a pseudonym.
Faculty Sponsor: Professor Tom Tipton