By: Sarah Hoblyn

Sarah Hoblyn — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 22:30:36 +0000

Fascinating I have always been fascinated by both the Bible & Shakespeare, not only for the content, but also the poetry. Sarah. ntecontent

By: Richard M. Waugaman, M.D.

Richard M. Waugaman, M.D. — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 11:10:34 +0000

There are so many important connections between Shakespeare and spirituality. Most Shakespeare lovers remain unaware that his personal copy of the Geneva Bible is the most priceless book at the Folger Shakespeare Library. I have had the privilege of doing research on it since I first heard about it in 2002. He clearly read it closely over many years, and showed his interest in many, many passages by underlining verse numbers and words; by drawing flowers and pointing hands in the margins; and by writing key-words in the margins. The latter showed his special interest in social justice–he was more likely to write “the poor,” “alms” and “usury” in the margin than he was other key-words.

It was my good fortune to discover through examining his copy that the primary psalms translation that influenced Shakespeare’s literary works was the musical Whole Book of Psalms (the Elizabethan “hymnal,” translated by Sternhold and Hopkins). Knowing this unlocks many mysteries, especially in the psalms, but also in several plays and in his neglected long poem, The Rape of Lucrece.

There is a trade-off before we can fully plumb the depths of Shakespeare’s keen interest in the psalms. We have to leave the Shakespeare mythographers behind, and accept the growing evidence that Shakespeare was one of several pen names used by Edward de Vere, Early of Oxford.

The full text of most of my 75 publications on this topic can be read on my Georgetown faculty website.

Comments on: Swept away by Shakespeare, the poetry of prayers

By: Sarah Hoblyn

By: Richard M. Waugaman, M.D.