Does religion dictate politics or does politics dictate religion? Is success achieved through strategy or spirituality? Should the king bear moral responsibility for his soldiers’ behavior in battle? Shakespeare shot to fame in the 1590s by tackling the critical questions of his day in dramas depicting the inner lives of medieval English monarchs. But he couldn’t have done it without drawing on the Hebrew Bible. In this episode, Professor Paul Cantor takes us on a deep dive into Henry V, unpacking the influence of early Israelite leaders, including Moses, Joshua, and David, on Shakespeare’s compelling and complex representation of the Tudor dynasty.
Audio Credits:
Henry V, The Hollow Crown series, dir. Thea Sharrock (2012)
Henry V, Arkangel Shakespeare audiobook (2014)
Henry V, dir. Kenneth Branaugh (1989)
Mentioned in This Episode:
Shakespeare and the Bible by Steven Marx
Rabbi Sacks, Covenant and Conversation
Hosted by Straus Center Resident Scholar Dr. Shaina Trapedo
Produced by Uri Westrich and Sam Gelman
Outro by Straus Scholar Ayelet Brown
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