Shakespeare's Tragedies

by Clare R. Kinney

Shakespeare's contributions to stage and language are unequaled. In what Professor Clare R. Kinney calls the "power and audacity of his poetry and stagecraft," Shakespeare has left audiences breathless these past four centuries.

24 lectures | 30 minutes each

1
Defining Tragedy
2
Shakespearean Tragedy in Context
3
Hamlet I—"Stand and unfold yourself"
4
Hamlet II—The Performance of Revenge
5
Hamlet III—Difficult Women
6
Hamlet IV—Uncontainable Hamlet
7
Othello I—Miscegenation and Mixed Messages
8
Othello II—Monstrous Births
9
Othello III—"Ocular Proof"
10
Othello IV—Tragic Knowledge
11
King Lear I—Kingship and Kinship
12
King Lear II—"Unaccommodated Man"

13
King Lear III—The Stage of Fools
14
King Lear IV—"Is this the promised end?"
15
Macbeth I—Desire and Equivocation
16
Macbeth II—"Dispute it like a man"
17
Macbeth III—Bloody Babes and Bloody Ends
18
Antony and Cleopatra I—Epic Desires
19
Antony and Cleopatra II—Identity Politics
20
Antony and Cleopatra III—The Art of Dying
21
Coriolanus I—The Loner and the Mob
22
Coriolanus II—The Theater of Politics
23
Coriolanus III—Mothers and Killers
24
Conclusion—Beyond Tragedy?

Genres: Audiobook, Shakespeare, Nonfiction, Literature, Plays, British Literature, Literary Criticism

12 pages, Audible Audio

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Carol Bakker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clare Kinney's English accent is a benediction. It's almost worth twelve hours of your time just to hear her talk! Kinney guides the reader through Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra, and Coriolanus. Thank you, Dr. Kinney, for omitting Titus Andronicus. ::shudder::

My favorite lecture was the last one, where Kinney discusses Shakespeare's later plays that go beyond tragic plots and end in wonder and grace. [Pericles, Cymbeline, The Winter's Tale, The Tempest] It may be the first time I have heard a Teaching Company lecturer become choked up when talking.

[Doug Trani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish this lecture series had been around when my high school English class read Macbeth. I might have actually understood and appreciated it. I saw the play performed a few years later, but I still had far too little comprehension and appreciation to truly enjoy the experience and stave off sleep from sheer boredom. Although I have never been afraid of Virginia Woolf, Shakespeare has always terrified me. This has evoked avoidance behavior and I have never really tried to understand Shakespeare. Dr. Kinney's lecture series, however, provides people like me with a framework for grasping the essence of Shakespeare's tragedies, using Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Anthony and Cleopatra, and Coriolanus as examples of the genre. Her lectures about these plays are insightful and thought provoking. Now I feel motivated to read them all, to study them more, and then to see them performed. Some, possibly, more than once.

[Michael Patton · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent choice by Great Courses. A shame that the company didn't use Clare Kinney for other lecture series on Shakespeare. She explores the texts by performing--not simply reading--certain key passages. Her insight is so convincing, I may even reexamine "Coriolanus"--which seemed to me to be one of the Bard's weaker plays.

[Mary Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a good overview of the major Shakespearean tragedies - some, like Lear, I thought I knew very well, and others, like Coriolanus, that I barely knew. I learned a lot I had missed in the ones I thought I knew, and now I want to see if I can find productions of those I barely knew.

[Hunter Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful review of Shakespeare's Tragedies and the last lecture is very interesting part tie-in part exploration of other of his works. You will not be able to appreciate the lectures unless you are familiar with the tragedies. Love the Professor's use of quotes and explanations.

[Tom Baikin-O'hayon · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good introductory review with several good insights,

[Michelle Mosley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, well done; will have to return to these lectures again after going through the tragedies she covered!

[Hamish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh.

[Brenden Gallagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good lecture series on Shakespearean’s major tragedies

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started in 2023 - but the only reason it took me so long to finish it was that I wanted to read all the plays as she discussed them. Missed out on one, but the lectures are still very interesting.

[John P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this course. I will rewatch.

[Roberta Westwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very lively

This was a very lively and engaging way to learn about Shakespeare. I learned a lot!

[Mothwing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful and sometimes laugh-out-loud hilarious walk through the tragedies, discussing Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth, Othello, Anthony and Cleopatra and Coriolanus. Great to get reacquainted or to get an introduction to these tragedies.

[Alisi ☆ wants to read too many books ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating.