Category Archives: Plays and Poems

Shakespeare’s minds diseased: mental illness and its treatment

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Sylvia Morris

Shakespeare was clearly fascinated by mental illness, many characters displaying a variety of symptoms from Lear’s madness, Jaques’ melancholy, Timon’s bitter cursing, Macbeth’s visions and Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking, to the obsessiveness of Leontes.  It’s usually accepted that Shakespeare was influenced in medical matters by … Continue reading →

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International Women’s day: remembering Mary Cowden Clarke

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Sylvia Morris

Every year on 8 March International Women’s Day celebrates the achievements of women. All round the world women still suffer serious inequality, and education is one area to which even in the Western world women were denied equal access until … Continue reading →

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Farewell to the majestic cedar

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Sylvia Morris

It’s sad to report that the Cedar of Lebanon tree which stands in the garden of Shakespeare’s Birthplace has to be taken down later this week. It’s a real focal point of the garden, forming the backdrop for countless photographs, … Continue reading →

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Picturing Shakespeare: Alan O’Cain’s The Tempest

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Sylvia Morris

  Responses to Shakespeare’s plays come in many forms, and his influence on other art forms such as music, painting and design was explored as part of the British Shakespeare Association’s Lancaster University conference last weekend.  Picturing Shakespeare was one … Continue reading →

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Seeing Shakespeare inside-out at the British Shakespeare Association conference

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Sylvia Morris

At the end of the week I’m going to the British Shakespeare Association’s Conference at Lancaster University.  The three-day conference runs from 24-26 February and is on the theme of Shakespeare Inside-Out: Depth/Surface/Meaning. A host of lectures, seminars and practical … Continue reading →

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The Phoenix and Turtle: Shakespeare’s Valentines

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Sylvia Morris

Today we are celebrating St Valentine’s day by giving flowers, chocolates and cards decorated with symbols of hearts and roses to those we love. Traditionally it’s the day when birds pair up for the mating season, and Chaucer, writing in … Continue reading →

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Taming Petruchio

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Sylvia Morris

In his latest blog post, Stanley Wells has picked up on Michael Billington’s tweet about The Taming of the Shrew. Was he right, the critic asked, to suggest some thirty years ago that this play should be banned? How time … Continue reading →

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Coriolanus on the big screen: Ralph Fiennes’ directorial debut

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Sylvia Morris

Ralph Fiennes’ Coriolanus is an extraordinary achievement. Not only is it Fiennes’ first attempt at directing a film, but he also takes the leading role, in effect directing himself too. He’s breaking new ground: it’s the first feature film version … Continue reading →

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The Taming of the Shrew and Measure for Measure: two of a kind?

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Sylvia Morris

The Royal Shakespeare Company is currently offering audiences the chance to see both The Taming of the Shrew and Measure for Measure back to back. These plays are unlikely bedfellows, but they have in fact a lot in common.  Both … Continue reading →

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Health and illness in Shakespeare

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Sylvia Morris

Shakespeare’s interest in all things medical is well known, and Sujata Iyengar’s recent book Shakespeare’s medical language – a dictionary, published by Continuum, is a successful addition to the literature on the subject, both a fascinating read and a valuable reference … Continue reading →

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