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Shakespeare in a Divided America summary
What His Plays Tell Us About Our Past and Future
24 mins
Brief summary
The book 'Shakespeare in a Divided America' by James Shapiro explores how Shakespeare is used in America to navigate issues such as race, politics, and religion amidst cultural divides. It tells a story of America through the lens of Shakespeare's work.
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Shakespeare in a Divided America
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Shakespeare’s Othello revealed the progressive limitations of even America’s foremost abolitionists.
In 1829, a 19-year-old British woman named Fanny Kemble joined the family business and became an actor. She was an overnight success in her first role, playing the female lead in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Kemble proved to be such a sensation that her American debut became eagerly anticipated.
Upon arriving in the US in 1833, she received a dinner invitation from the wealthy Boston physician, George Parkman, who also invited the former president John Quincy Adams. Kemble and Adams were seated next to each other at the dinner table, and their conversation turned out to be a minor sensation of its own.
The key message here is: Shakespeare’s Othello revealed the progressive limitations of even America’s foremost abolitionists.
Like many well-read Americans at the time, John Quincy Adams admired Shakespeare. But he’d always had issues with the play Othello. In particular, he took issue with the character Desdemona, and her intimate relationship with Othello, who’s described as a dark-skinned Moor. Although it was unpublished at the time of his encounter with Kemble, Adams had written an essay in which he claimed that “the great moral lesson of the tragedy of Othello is, that black and white blood cannot be intermingled in marriage without a gross outrage upon the law of Nature . . .”
Two years after Parkman’s dinner party, Kemble published the journals she’d written during her American tour. In them, she described an awkward conversation with an unnamed man who told her that, despite being a “worshipper of Shakespeare,” he found Othello to be disgusting (and Romeo and Juliet to be childish nonsense).
It didn’t take readers long to figure out who Kemble was writing about, and reporters were soon pressuring Adams to elaborate on his remarks. This is what led to his earlier essay finally being published – making his distaste for the relationship between Othello and Desdemona publicly known.
At the time, there was a growing abolitionist movement, despite the efforts of pro-slavery politicians like James Henry Hammond, of South Carolina. Hammond also invoked Othello when he spoke to Congress and described a dreadful future in which someone like Othello would be considered a fellow congressman.
In his final years, Adams made the abolition of slavery his central cause. But this mental divide, of wanting to end slavery yet still being unsettled by the love between people of different skin colors, speaks to just how far America had to go if it were ever to reach its ideals of equality.
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What is Shakespeare in a Divided America about?
Shakespeare in a Divided America (2020) offers a new perspective on American history. In looking back at eight instances where Shakespeare’s plays have been politicized by those on both sides of the political spectrum, we can see how the playwright's work has remained highly relevant over the years.
Shakespeare in a Divided America Review
Shakespeare in a Divided America (2020) explores how Shakespeare's plays have been interpreted and performed in the United States during times of social and political division. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Through fascinating historical analysis and insightful storytelling, it reveals the complex ways in which Shakespeare's works have influenced and reflected American society.
- By examining key moments in American history, the book demonstrates the power of art to shape public discourse and to unite or divide communities.
- With its thorough research and thought-provoking arguments, it not only sheds light on Shakespeare's enduring relevance but also offers a fresh perspective on American culture.
Best quote from Shakespeare in a Divided America
. . .(Adams) felt free to share these feelings with friends, with Fanny Kemble, and eventually with the world, but only through his reflections on Shakespeare.
—James Shapiro
Who should read Shakespeare in a Divided America?
- Fans of the Bard and his many plays
- People interested in how art can be politicized
- History buffs and those curious about America’s political past
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Shakespeare in a Divided America FAQs
What is the main message of Shakespeare in a Divided America?
The main message of Shakespeare in a Divided America is how Shakespeare's plays have influenced American society and politics throughout history.
How long does it take to read Shakespeare in a Divided America?
The reading time for Shakespeare in a Divided America varies depending on the reader, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Shakespeare in a Divided America a good book? Is it worth reading?
Shakespeare in a Divided America is a fascinating and thought-provoking book. It sheds light on the intersection of Shakespeare and American society, making it a valuable and worthwhile read.
Who is the author of Shakespeare in a Divided America?
James Shapiro is the author of Shakespeare in a Divided America.
What to read after Shakespeare in a Divided America?
If you're wondering what to read next after Shakespeare in a Divided America, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare by James Shapiro
- Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
- Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
- The Open Society and Its Enemies by Karl R. Popper
- Good Energy by Casey Means
- How to Think Like a Philosopher by Peter Cave
- How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes
- The Republic by Plato
- Politics by Aristotle
- Reversing Alzheimer's by Heather Sandison