Political Capital and Renaissance Drama
The
Bard on Bainbridge
March
20 2005
Professor
of English
Cal
Poly University
San
Luis Obispo California
Like the Bible, the work of William Shakespeare is often appropriated to serve local political and economic ends.
This presentation considers some recent high profile examples, including honorific and disparaging analogies between George W. Bush and Henry the Fifth.
These current uses are examined in light of Shakespeare's overall consideration of human behavior in the political arena and some controversies of his own time.
Related materials:
Shakespeare's Henry V and Troilus and Cressida
Henry V, the film directed by Kenneth Branagh
Steven Marx, "Holy War in Henry V"
Steven Marx, "Shakespeare's Pacifism"
Mackubin T. Owens, "Shakespeare Was No Pacifist" November 2002
Bob Thompson, "The King and We: Henry Fifth's War Cabinet" Washington Post May 2004
Nicolas Kristof, "Crowning King George" NY Times September 2004
Pieter Brueghel, "War of the Moneybags and Treasure Chests
Joseph R. Stromberg, "Shakespeare, War, and Peace"
Scott Newstrom, "George W as Henry V?"