Shakespeare and the Idea of Europe

Shakespeare lived and wrote on the cusp of the idea of Europe. He not only chronicled this historical development, but through historical antecedents and other tropes, he warned us about it. We will use adaptations of his plays on film to examine his warnings. Topics covered will include anti-semitism, anti-blackness, Islamophia, and the notion of soveignty. Students will keep a journal reflecting on the idea of Europe through Shakespeare and its continuing impact to day. Plays include Othello, the Merchant of Venice, and Henry the 4th, I and II.