Dr. explains the logic and anti-modernism of Kate’s final speech in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.Dr. White simply observes the real differences in nature between men and women. He then provides some real life examples of the difficult traditional Catholic women have in finding a good Catholic man. Women, in their nature, seek to find a man who will first pay attention to her. He then goes into Act V, Scene 2 and analyzes Kate’s final speech which brings forth the concept of hierarchy, and the consequences of not following God’s order. Dr. White then gives a brilliant description of feminism and how at its root it is a rebellion against divine order rooted in nature. What these women end up doing is making bad parodies of men.
In this, part two of Dr. White’s commentary on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, he outlines the plot: built around eavesdropping and gossiping. It is a comedy, according to White, which contains two of the greatest comic scenes ever written. Interspersed with selected readings, Dr. White emphasizes the huge importance of words, and how language in this play is used as weaponry. It is what White calls a “serious” comedy. And he points out how the play evokes the image of the Virgin Mary, the model for all women; and he describes the parallels between this Shakespeare work and Dante’s Divine Comedy.
Dr. White concludes his two-part direct analysis of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.In this comedy, we see the male ego at work and the wooing of a woman. Unlike the typical depiction of men and women today, we see – with all their flaws – a real man and woman interacting in this comedy. Dr. White brings out the concept of marital obedience and discusses St. Paul and his letter to the Ephesians. In the play, we are able to see the change made in Petruchio who gives Katerina his full affection in the end. There is a question and answer period where Dr. White speaks on chastity, the difficulty moderns have in understanding the ideabehind the play, and how Shakespeare speaks timeless truths.
In part one of Dr. White’s commentary on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, he points out that this particular comedy makes obvious references to the 12 days of Christmas, with the “twelfth night” as the end of festivities. And the plot of the play is also connected to the Feast of the Epiphany, i.e., seeing the truth where others fail to see it. This play contains a host of strong-willed characters and numerous cases of mistaken identity wherein they are unable to see the truth about themselves. It’s a play that reminds us we are human. A great comedy, according to Dr. White, but one sprinkled with sorrow and sadness.
Part One of Dr. White’s two-part examination of Shakespeare’s classic comedy, The Taming of the Shrew.Dr. White gives a classical definition of comedy which reminds us of our human nature, that we are but flesh and blood, and as a consequence keeps us humble. In this comedy we see the tensions between men and women – the “battle of the sexes.” The lecture also analyzes the character of Katerina and Petruchio who represent pure will and pure ego respectively.
In part two of his commentary on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Dr. White describes how Shakespeare’s characters bear a striking similarity to those found in Greek mythology, namely Echo and Narcissus. Twelfth Night, White tells us, is filled with similar instances of self-love. But, interspersed with dramatic readings, he also points out that there is life in the play, whereby love breaks out of selfishness. Dr. White sees it as a play filled with truthfulness, in which characters eventually see what is real, i.e., what is actually there. This ultimately leads to a happy ending as they learn to care about someone other than themselves. He ends the commentary with a question and answer session.
