Two Philosophical Issues in Shakespeare

Little mentioned two important positions that Shakespeare addresses in his works. These concepts are consistently underscored through the themes of his plays, the speech and actions of the characters, and the resulting outcomes of those actions:

(1) The Uncovering of the Self:

‘All the world’s a stage, / And all the men and women merely players.’ (As You Like It, 2.7.138-39).

Shakespeare consistently draws attention to the notion that the parts individuals play in their daily lives are analogous to the parts actors play on a stage; they are laid out for us prior to our receiving them and adopted by us without our being aware of doing so. Roles can be social, gender specific, religious, political…all of these mantels are taken on and acted out. To get to the very heart of someone is to dig beneath these layers of public and private roleplaying.

(2) The Hierarchical Order:

‘Take but degree away, untune that string, / And hark what discord follows…’ (Troilus and Cressida, 1.3.109-10).

The social order is an important element of a stable society. If the roles and responsibilities that make up such an order are cast aside, chaos reigns and the society crumbles.

Shakespeare reconciles these two ideas: we must not think that these roles are anything other than insubstantial sets of norms which we decide to play out in the public and private spheres, while at once understanding that they are a necessary component to the continued functioning of the society.

--Drew Fleshman, Section 1D (Waldo)