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Shakespeare & Beyond

Shakespeare & Beyond

The Shakespeare & Beyond blog features a wide range of Shakespeare-related topics: the early modern period in which he lived, the ways his plays have been interpreted and staged over the past four centuries, the enduring power of his characters and language, and more.

Birds of Shakespeare: The European robin
Four European robins surrounded by eggs, feathers, honeybees, and the branches and fruit of the European crab apple
Shakespeare and Beyond

Birds of Shakespeare: The European robin

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Author
Missy Dunaway

According to Renaissance folklore, robins were kind and adored humans so deeply that if one came upon a person who had passed away, it would place flowers on the body.

Proving a villain: Problematic Shakespearean mentors
Tom Hanks looking mean and holding a cigar
Shakespeare and Beyond

Proving a villain: Problematic Shakespearean mentors

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Author
Austin Tichenor

Austin Tichenor writes about the problematic protagonists of the Oscar-nominated films Elvis and Tár, who evoke Shakespeare’s Richard III as they seek to control their respective narratives.

Birds of Shakespeare: The turtle dove
A turtle dove in flight with two other turtle doves sitting below on a branch
Shakespeare and Beyond

Birds of Shakespeare: The turtle dove

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Author
Missy Dunaway

The turtle dove as a symbol of love appears in Shakespeare’s romances, tragedies, and comedies.

Shakespeare’s Best and Worst Couples
Shakespeare and Beyond

Shakespeare’s Best and Worst Couples

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As Valentine’s Day approaches, we polled our theater partners to determine who Shakespeare’s best and worst couples are and what their relationships teach us about love.

“I do love nothing in the world so well as you”: 6 Shakespeare quotes for Valentine’s Day
Shakespeare and Beyond

“I do love nothing in the world so well as you”: 6 Shakespeare quotes for Valentine’s Day

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Looking for a way to say “I love you” this Valentine’s Day? Say it with Shakespeare! We’ve got six new Shakespearean Valentines for you to send to that special someone.

“Wanton boys": Shakespeare and The White Lotus Season 2
Two female characters in a scene from The White Lotus
Shakespeare and Beyond

“Wanton boys": Shakespeare and The White Lotus Season 2

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Author
Austin Tichenor

Austin Tichenor writes a blog post about how, like many of Shakespeare’s plays, the HBO series The White Lotus explores power among the privileged and the people who attend them.

Birds of Shakespeare: The lark
A detail of the painting showing a lark, a toad, and a piece of red cloth
Shakespeare and Beyond

Birds of Shakespeare: The lark

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Author
Missy Dunaway

Shakespeare mainly employs the lark as a beloved symbol for the morning, the herald of the dawn. Most of the lark’s 27 appearances in Shakespeare’s works feature it welcoming the start of each day with a sweet song.

What's onstage at Shakespeare theaters this winter
Shakespeare and Beyond

What's onstage at Shakespeare theaters this winter

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Author
Ben Lauer

Sometimes it seems like January and February drag on forever. Thankfully, in 2023, there’s lots of thrilling theater to keep our spirits up. Here’s our round-up of performances from our theater partners across the United States this winter.

Marking a milestone: 200 episodes of Shakespeare Unlimited
Shakespeare and Beyond

Marking a milestone: 200 episodes of Shakespeare Unlimited

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Author
Ben Lauer

To celebrate releasing the 200th episode of the Folger’s Shakespeare Unlimited podcast, we revisit our five most popular episodes to date.

Q&A: Reynaldo Piniella and Emily Lyon on their bilingual Hamlet
Reynaldo Piniella and Emily Lyon
Shakespeare and Beyond

Q&A: Reynaldo Piniella and Emily Lyon on their bilingual Hamlet

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Author
Shakespeare & Beyond

In this bilingual Hamlet, a Black and Latinx prince has his sense of identity fractured by the loss of his Black father.

Q&A: Lauren Gunderson on her new play, A Room in the Castle, about the women of Hamlet
Shakespeare and Beyond

Q&A: Lauren Gunderson on her new play, A Room in the Castle, about the women of Hamlet

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Author
Shakespeare & Beyond
Top 5 Folger Finds of 2022
Shakespeare and Beyond

Top 5 Folger Finds of 2022

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Author
Ben Lauer
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