The Secret of Shakespeare: Sacred Art and the Human Soul

The Secret of Shakespeare: Sacred Art and the Human Soul

Martin Lings reads Shakespeare’s plays as dramas of the soul. In seven lectures on Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear, Othello, Measure for Measure, The Winter’s Tale and Cymbeline, he follows the movement from disorder and self-deception through suffering, repentance and reconciliation. He attends to the plays’ language and stage action, asking how they give form to inward experiences that are hard to describe directly.

1. 0:00 — Hamlet
2. 1:10:47 — Macbeth — Part 1
3. 1:47:28 — Macbeth — Part 2
4. 2:22:08 — King Lear — Part 1
5. 3:02:54 — King Lear — Part 2
6. 3:40:39 — Othello — Part 1
7. 4:23:24 — Othello — Part 2
8. 5:01:55 — Measure for Measure
9. 6:08:36 — The Winter’s Tale — Part 1
10. 6:41:32 — The Winter’s Tale — Part 2
11. 7:13:51 — Cymbeline — Part 1
12. 7:45:50 — Cymbeline — Part 2
13. 8:16:02 — Keats and Shakespeare

Martin Lings — 2 recordings in the archive.

Related reading: Shakespeare in the Light of Sacred Art by Martin Lings.

Ladies and gentlemen, this play as I mentioned previously seems to have been written when Hamlet was when Shakespeare was about 38 in 162 and many superlatives may be said to apply to this play. It is the first of his truly great plays. The most complex perhaps of all his plays, the most elliptical, the most discussed, and by far the longest. It's nearly twice the length for example of the Winter’s Tale and it is it is far too long for the modern theater which means that much of it has to be cut and it's very difficult so so important most of the scenes it's extremely difficult when that point comes which what scenes can we cut but as regard regards as being the most elliptical. this is partly because Shakespeare seems to rely on our imaginations more than some of us deserve. There are ellipses that is certain. But everything of basic importance to the drama is or as always in Shakespeare is clear. Let us just consider the play from the beginning or rather from before the beginning and this helps to explain certain things which are not explained expressly in the play. Hamlet is a young man who has been living, one could say, in something of a fool's paradise. Everything has seemed to conspire for his happiness. Deeply loving parents whom he loves deeply. We must note the somewhat bitter remark of Claudius also. The queen, his mother, lives almost by his looks. And twice Claudius remarks how much Hamlet is loved by the people of Denmark. Besides all this, he is in love with Ailia, who returns his love and whom he hopes to marry. Everything seems perfect and he's been brought up as heir to the throne and seems to fulfill that function exceedingly well. He is to quote Ailia the courtiers soldiers scholars eye tongue sword the expectancy and rose of this fair state the glass of fashion and the mold of form. the observed of all observers. And suddenly it is all gone. His father is dead. His proflegate uncle has taken the throne and married his mother. And his shock at his as what has happened with his mother and her agreeing to this marriage has obviously affected as we shall see his whole attitude towards women and possibly including ailia. But the play shows us, however, that…