Shakespeare: Two Tragedies of Love

In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare creates a world of violence and generational conflict in which two young people fall in love and die because of that love.

In Antony and Cleopatra, Shakespeare takes us to the world of Roman power politics in which two adults fall in love and die because of that love.

The characters are complex and fascinating; the language is wonderful.

Using several filmed versions of each play, we’ll compare what different directors and actors have done. In class we’ll read parts of the plays in class, a bit at a time; have a general discussion; and then watch and discuss parts of two or three different films.