Shakespeare and Christianity

Paper Summary:

This paper uses Shakespeare's plays "Henry V", "Macbeth" and "Othello"to prove the point that Shakespeare was not a model Christian. It looks at how in "Henry V" and "Macbeth", the representatives of Christianity are portrayed as unfeeling, callous and horrible, the complete opposite of the qualities a model Christian might possess. It also discusses how, through characters such as Iago in "Othello", Shakespeare presents his audience with a world-view that is anything but Christian-like.

From the Paper:

"What scholars do know about Shakespeare's era was that playwrights were not allowed to have their characters discuss religion on stage for fear of religious civil war. The Bedford reads, "In 1606, Parliament passed legislation regulating the language of the stage, establishing a fine of ten pounds for anyone who should 'jestingly or prophanely speake or use the holy name of God or of Christ Jesus, or of the Holy Ghoste or of the Trinitie.'" As a result of this law, Shakespeare brilliantly began to allude to religious ideas through implications. For example, in the play Othello, Shakespeare created the character of Iago, who so blatantly opposed supernatural causality, or the idea that all things are determined by God and the Heavens. Instead, Iago takes a Machiavellian view of the world, believing that supernatural forces are not what makes things happen."

Sample of Sources Used:

• McDonald, Russ. The Bedford Companion to Shakespeare. Second ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2001. 14.
• Shakespeare, William. Henry V. Ed. Claire McEachern. New York: Penguin Books, 2000.
• Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Ed. Stephen Orgel. New York: Penguin Books, 2000.
• Shakespeare, William. Othello. Ed. Russ McDonald. New York: Penguin Books, 2001.

More papers on Shakespeare and Christianity:

• Comparison Essay # 45883 : "Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" and "Julius Caesar"
• Analytical Essay # 67154 : "Shakespeare's "Hamlet"
• Analytical Essay # 146467 : "Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice"

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