LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL REVIEW - Concordia Lutheran Seminary

LTR XII (Academic Year 1999-2000): 6-19
REDEMPTIVE THEMES IN SHAKESPEARE 1
Frederic W. Baue
INTRODUCTION
y concern in this paper is not academic but pastoral. That is, my
aim is not to develop a tightly-reasoned critical analysis for
scholarly disputation, but rather to demonstrate in a simple way
some redemptive themes in the plays of William Shakespeare: first, for the
personal edification of pastors; second, to give them handy material for
sermons.
William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England.
After a successful career as an actor and playwright in London, he returned
in style to his home town, where he died in 1616. I visited Stratford in 1991
and spent a pleasant, sunny afternoon at the local church. There I saw
records which demonstrate that Shakespeare was baptized at that
congregation, held office as an active member, and received Christian burial
in a state of grace. In fact, he was interred in the chancel, an honour granted
only to the most prominent citizens.
While he was honoured in life by kings, in death by his congregation, and
ever since has been esteemed by the world, today Shakespeare is under
attack. The Washington Times reports that Arizona State University fired
drama professor Jared Sakren because of “his determination to stage works
from the ‘sexist European canon,’ including Aeschylus, Ibsen, and—most
egregiously—Shakespeare.” 2 According to a Philadelphia Inquirer story,
“Shakespeare, Melville, Chaucer, and Dickens may be on the way out in San
Francisco, where school board officials are considering a proposal that up to
70 per cent of school reading should be books by ‘authors of color.’” 3
M
Why is Shakespeare under attack? Because his works, like those of other
classic writers, form the foundation of western civilization. It is clear from
his plays that Shakespeare holds traditional views on many subjects. Take
the role of women in Taming of the Shrew, where the termagant Kate finally
submits to her husband. Regarding government, his history plays such as
Richard III show that men who abuse power always come to a bad end. On
religion, his protestant sympathies can be seen in his positive treatment of
Anne Bullen, or Boleyn, mother of Queen Elizabeth I, in Henry VIII, where
1 This essay was first presented to the LCMS English District Eastern Region Fall
Conference, Atlantic City, NJ, 5-7 October 1998.
2 The Washington Times, National Weekly Edition, 11-17 May 1998, p. 23.
3 The Philadelphia Inquirer, 11 March 1998, p. A2.