# Shakespeare Across the Disciplines ## expand\_more We often hear that "Shakespeare is universal," but what does that mean? Does it mean that his art is good and true for all people in all places in all times? Stated as such, it is highly unlikely that Shakespeare’s art – or anyone’s – is universal, and of course the argument for Shakespeare’s universality is demonstrably false. Our skepticism about Shakespeare's universality, however, should not preclude our recognition of Shakespeare's versatility. Even if not universal, Shakespeare is versatile. His art has been enjoyed and experienced by many different people in many ways in many different times. Below is a sampling of the ways that Shakespeare has surfaced across the many different academic disciplines. In rhetoric and composition studies, we often talk about writing across the curriculum (WAC) as a way to show how the skills and habits of good interpretation and argumentation are relevant in disciplines other than literary studies. Shakespeare is too. The versatility of his art has made him into a major player in fields far beyond literary studies. ### African and African American Studies expand\_more [Distiller, Natasha. "Shakespeare and the Coconuts: Close Encounters in Post-Apartheid South Africa.” Shakespeare Survey 62 (2009): 211-21.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/distiller_natasha._22shakespeare_and_the_coconuts-_close_encounters_in_post-apartheid_south_africa._shakespeare_survey_62_2009-_211-21.pdf) [Retamar, Roberto Fernandez. “Caliban: Notes Toward a Discussion of Culture in Our America.” 1971. Trans. Lynn Garafola, David Arthur McMurray, and Roberto Marquez. Massachusetts Review 15.1-2 (1974): 7-72.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/retamar_roberto_fernandez._caliban-_notes_toward_a_discussion_of_culture_in_our_america._1971._trans._lynn_garafola_david_arthur_mcmurray_and_roberto_marquez._massachusetts_review_15.1-2_1974-_7-72.pdf) [Smith, Ian. "We Are Othello: Speaking of Race in Early Modern Studies." Shakespeare Quarterly 67.1 (2016): 104-24.](https://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/smith_ian._22we_are_othello-_speaking_of_race_in_early_modern_studies.22_shakespeare_quarterly_67.1_2016-_104-24.pdf) ### Anthropology expand\_more [Bohannan, Laura. “Shakespeare in the Bush: An American Anthropologist Set Out to Study the Tiv of West Africa and was Taught the True Meaning of Hamlet." Natural History 75 (1966): 28–33.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/bohannan_laura._shakespeare_in_the_bush-_an_american_anthropologist_set_out_to_study_the_tiv_of_west_africa_and_was_taught_the_true_meaning_of_hamlet.22_natural_history_75_1966-_28-33.pdf) ### Archeology expand\_more Hilts, Carly. “Raising the Curtain: Shakespeare’s Theatre Discovered.” *Current Archeology* 23.269 (2012): 10-13. [Knight, Heather. "Shakespeare's Theatre? Excavations at 4-6 New Inn Broadway, London EC2.” Post-Medieval Archaeology 43.2 (2009): 347-49.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/knight_heather._22shakespeares_theatre_excavations_at_4-6_new_inn_broadway_london_ec2._post-medieval_archaeology_43.2_2009-_347-49.pdf) ### Art History expand\_more [Bate, Jonathan. “The Shakespeare Phenomenon.” Shakespeare in Art. Ed. Jane Martineau and Desmond Shawe-Taylor. London: Merrell, 2003. 9-20.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/bate_jonathan._the_shakespeare_phenomenon._shakespeare_in_art._ed._jane_martineau_and_desmond_shawe-taylor._london-_merrell_2003._9-20.pdf) ### Astronomy expand\_more [Falk, Dan. "Shakespeare: Poet, Playwright, Scientist." New Scientist 222.2965 (2014 April 19): 40-41.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/falk_dan._22shakespeare-_poet_playwright_scientist.22_new_scientist_222.2965_2014_april_19-_40-41.pdf) ### Biology expand\_more [Rodman, Rachel. “Biology through Shakespeare.” Shakespeare 450. Paris, France (April 14, 2014).](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/rodman_rachel._biology_through_shakespeare._shakespeare_450._paris_france_april_14_2014.pdf) ### Business expand\_more [Bennis, Warren G. “The Seven Ages of the Leader.” Harvard Business Review 82.1 (Jan. 2004): 46-53.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/bennis_warren_g._the_seven_ages_of_the_leader._harvard_business_review_82.1_jan._2004-_46-53.pdf) [Lanier, Douglas. “Shakescorp Noir.” Shakespeare Quarterly 53.2 (2002): 157-80.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/lanier_douglas._shakescorp_noir._shakespeare_quarterly_53.2_2002-_157-80.pdf) ### Chemistry expand\_more [https://pubs-acs-org.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/doi/pdf/10.1021%2Fed200289t](https://pubs-acs-org.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/doi/pdf/10.1021/ed200289t) ### Classics expand\_more [Hopkins, David. “‘The English Homer’: Shakespeare: Longinus, and English ‘Neo-Classicism’.” Shakespeare and the Classics. Ed. Charles Martindale and A.B. Taylor. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004. 261-76.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/hopkins_david._the_english_homer-_shakespeare-_longinus_and_english_neo-classicism._shakespeare_and_the_classics._ed._charles_martindale_and_a.b._taylor._cambridge-_cambridge_university_press_2004._261-76.pdf) ### Comparative Literature expand\_more [Turgenev, Ivan. "Hamlet and Don Quixote." 1860. Trans. Moshe Spiegel. Chicago Review 17.4 (1965): 92-109.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/turgenev_ivan._22hamlet_and_don_quixote.22_1860._trans._moshe_spiegel._chicago_review_17.4_1965-_92-109.pdf) ### Drama expand\_more [Kott, Jan. "King Lear or Endgame." Shakespeare Our Contemporary. Trans. Boleslaw Taborski. New York, NY: Methuan, 1963. 87-124.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/kott_jan._22king_lear_or_endgame.22_shakespeare_our_contemporary._trans._boleslaw_taborski._new_york_ny-_methuan_1963._87-124.pdf) ### Economics expand\_more [Shell, Marc. "The Wether and the Ewe: Verbal Usury in The Merchant of Venice." Kenyon Review NS 1.4 (1979): 65-92.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/shell_marc._22the_wether_and_the_ewe-_verbal_usury_in_the_merchant_of_venice.22_kenyon_review_ns_1.4_1979-_65-92.pdf) ### Education expand\_more [Frey, Charles. "Teaching Shakespeare in America." Shakespeare Quarterly 35.5 (1984): 541-59.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/frey_charles._22teaching_shakespeare_in_america.22_shakespeare_quarterly_35.5_1984-_541-59.pdf) [Turchi, Laura, and Ayanna Thompson. "Shakespeare and the Common Core: An Opportunity to Reboot." Phi Delta Kappan 95.1 (Sept., 2013): 32-36.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/turchi_laura_and_ayanna_thompson._22shakespeare_and_the_common_core-_an_opportunity_to_reboot.22_phi_delta_kappan_95.1_sept._2013-_32-36.pdf) [Yachnin, Paul. "The Crisis in the Humanities—What Would Shakespeare do?" Humanities 5.2 (2016).](https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/5/2/31) ### English expand\_more Bloom, Harold. "Shakespeare, Center of the Canon." *The Western Canon: The Books and Schools of the Ages* (New York, NY: Riverhead, 1994): 43-71. Eliot, T.S. "Hamlet and His Problems." *The Secret Wood: Essays on Poetry and Criticism*. London: Methuen, 1920. Greenblatt, Stephen. “The Cirulation of Social Energy.” *Shakespearen Negotiations*. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988. 1-20. Knights, L.C. *How Many Children Had Lady Macbeth?: An Essay in the Theory and Practice of Shakespeare* *Criticism.* Cambridge, MA: The Minority Press, 1933. ### Environmental Studies expand\_more [Estok, Simon C. “Shakespeare and Ecocriticism: An Analysis of Home and Power in King Lear.” AUMLA: Journal of the Australasian Universities Modern Language Association 103 (May 2005): 15–41.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/estok_simon_c._shakespeare_and_ecocriticism-_an_analysis_of_home_and_power_in_king_lear._aumla-_journal_of_the_australasian_universities_modern_language_association_103_may_2005-_15-41.pdf) [Martin, Randall. “Ecology, Evolution, and Hamlet.” Renaissance Shakespeare: Shakespeare Renaissances. Ed. Martin Prochazka. Newark: University of Delaware Press, 2014. 38-50.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/martin_randall._ecology_evolution_and_hamlet._renaissance_shakespeare-_shakespeare_renaissances._ed._martin_prochazka._newark-_university_of_delaware_press_2014._38-50.pdf) ### Ethics expand\_more Knapp, James A. “A Shakespearean Phenomenology of Moral Conviction.” *Shakespeare and Moral Agency.* Ed. Michael Bristol. New York, NY: Continuum, 2010. 29-41. Strier, Richard. "Shakespeare Against Morality." *Reading Renaissance Ethics*. Ed. Marshall Grossman,. New York, NY: Routledge, 2007. 206-225. ### Government expand\_more [Barnes, Todd Landon. "George W. Bush’s 'Three Shakespeares': Macbeth, Macbush, and the Theater of War." Shakespeare Bulletin 26.3 (Fall 2008): 1-29.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/barnes_todd_landon._22george_w._bushs_three_shakespeares-_macbeth_macbush_and_the_theater_of_war.22_shakespeare_bulletin_26.3_fall_2008-_1-29.pdf) [Wattenberg, Daniel. "The Lady Macbeth of Little Rock." The American Spectator 25.8 (Aug. 1992): 25-32.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/wattenberg_daniel._22the_lady_macbeth_of_little_rock.22_the_american_spectator_25.8_aug._1992-_25-32.pdf) ### History expand\_more [Wilson, Douglas L. “His Hour Upon the Stage: As a lifelong reader of Shakespeare's plays, Lincoln had reservations about how they were presented.” American Scholar 81.1 (2012): 60-70.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/wilson_douglas_l._his_hour_upon_the_stage-_as_a_lifelong_reader_of_shakespeares_plays_lincoln_had_reservations_about_how_they_were_presented._american_scholar_81.1_2012-_60-70.pdf) ### Information and Computer Sciences expand\_more [Craig, Hugh and Arthur F. Kinney. Shakespeare, Computers, and the Mystery of Authorship. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2009.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/craig_hugh_and_arthur_f._kinney._introduction_to_shakespeare_computers_and_the_mystery_of_authorship._cambridge_cambridge_university_press_2009.pdf) ### Law expand\_more [Dodson, Scott, and Ami Dodson. "Literary Justice.” Green Bag 18.2d (2015): 429-34.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/dodson_scott_and_ami_dodson._22literary_justice._green_bag_18.2d_2015-_429-34.pdf) [Nussbaum, Martha C. “ ‘Romans, Countrymen, and Lovers’: Political Love and the Rule of Law in Julius Caesar.” Shakespeare and the Law: A Conversation among Disciplines and Professions. Ed. Bradin Cormack, Martha C. Nussbaum, and Richard Strier. Chicago. IL: University of Chicago Press, 2013. 256-81. ](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/nussbaum_martha_c._romans_countrymen_and_lovers-_political_love_and_the_rule_of_law_in_julius_caesar._shakespeare_and_the_law._ed._cormack_nussbaum_and_strier._chicago._il-_university_of_chicago_press_2013._256-81.pdf) ### Mathematics expand\_more [Stiller, James, Daniel Nettle, and Robin I. M. Dunbar. "The Small World of Shakespeare’s Plays.” Human Nature 14.4 (Dec. 2003): 397-408.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/stiller_james_daniel_nettle_and_robin_i._m._dunbar._22the_small_world_of_shakespeares_plays._human_nature_14.4_dec._2003-_397-408.pdf) ### Medicine expand\_more [Bate, Jonathan. "'The infirmity of his age': Shakespeare's 400th Anniversary.” The Lancet 387.10029 (23-29 April 2016): 1715-16.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/bate_jonathan._22the_infirmity_of_his_age-_shakespeares_400th_anniversary._the_lancet_387.10029_23-29_april_2016-_1715-16.pdf) [Zaroff, Larry Z. "Drowning in Science ... Saved by Shakespeare: Teaching Literature to Premedical Students." The Pharos of Alpha Omega Alpha-Honor Medical Society 73.2 (Spring 2010): 13-15.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/zaroff_larry_z._22drowning_in_science_._saved_by_shakespeare-_teaching_literature_to_premedical_students.22_the_pharos_of_alpha_omega_alpha-honor_medical_society_73.2_spring_2010-_13-15.pdf) ### Near Eastern Studies expand\_more [Al-Nakib, Mai. "I Banish You: Reflections on Kuwait." Los Angeles Review of Books (2020 Aug. 6).](https://blog.lareviewofbooks.org/essays/banish-reflections-kuwait/) [Schifrin, Nick. "Reading Shakespeare in Kandahar." Foreign Policy (2011 Sept. 8).](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/schifrin_nick._22reading_shakespeare_in_kandahar.22_foreign_policy_2011_sept._8.pdf) ### Neuroscience expand\_more [Gomes, Marleide da Mota. "Shakespeare: His 450th Birth Anniversary and His Insights into Neurology and Cognition.” Arquivos de Neuro-psiquiatria 73.4 (2015): 359-61.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/gomes_marleide_da_mota._22shakespeare-_his_450th_birth_anniversary_and_his_insights_into_neurology_and_cognition._arquivos_de_neuro-psiquiatria_73.4_2015-_359-61.pdf) [Keidel, James L., et al. "How Shakespeare Tempests the Brain: Neuroimaging Insights." Cortex 49 (2013): 913-19.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/keidel_james_l._et_al._22how_shakespeare_tempests_the_brain-_neuroimaging_insights.22_cortex_49_2013-_913-19.pdf) ### Performing Arts expand\_more [Macualay, Alastair. "To Dance, Perchance to Dream." New York Times (30 March 2014): AR20.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/macualay_alastair._22to_dance_perchance_to_dream.22_new_york_times_30_march_2014-_ar20.pdf) ### Philosophy expand\_more [Cavell, Stanley. “The Avoidance of Love: A Reading of King Lear.” Must We Mean What We Say? A Book of Essays. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1976. 267-353.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/cavell_stanley._the_avoidance_of_love-_a_reading_of_king_lear._must_we_mean_what_we_say_a_book_of_essays._cambridge-_cambridge_university_press_1976._267-353.pdf) ### Physics expand\_more [Bate, Jonathan. “The Laws of the Shakespearean Universe.” The Genius of Shakespeare. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998. 294-340.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/bate_jonathan._the_laws_of_the_shakespearean_universe._the_genius_of_shakespeare._oxford-_oxford_university_press_1998._294-340.pdf) [Darooneh, Amir H. and Ashrafosadat Shariati. "Metrics for Evaluation of the Author's Writing Styles: Who is the Best?" Chaos 3.033132 (2014).](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/darooneh_amir_h._and_ashrafosadat_shariati._22metrics_for_evaluation_of_the_authors_writing_styles-_who_is_the_best22_chaos_3.033132_2014-_1-8.pdf) ### Psychology expand\_more Freud, Sigmund. "The Theme of the Three Caskets." Trans. C.J.M. Hubback. *The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud*. Ed. James Strachey. Vol. 12. London: Hogarth Press, 1959. 289-302. [Jones, Ernest. "The Oedipus-Complex as an Explanation of Hamlet's Mystery: a Study in Motive." American Journal of Psychology 21.1 (1910): 72-113.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/jones_ernest._22the_oedipus-complex_as_an_explanation_of_hamlets_mystery-_a_study_in_motive.22_american_journal_of_psychology_21.1_1910-_72-113.pdf) [Pinker, Steven. "Shakespeare: One of the First and Greatest Psychologists." The Atlantic (Jan. 7, 2015).](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/pinker_steven._22shakespeare-_one_of_the_first_and_greatest_psychologists.22_the_atlantic_jan._7_2015.pdf) [Smith, Keverne. “'Almost the Copy of My Child That's Dead': Shakespeare and the Loss of Hamnet.” OMEGA: Journal of Death and Dying 64.1 (April 2011-12): 29-40.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/smith_keverne._almost_the_copy_of_my_child_thats_dead-_shakespeare_and_the_loss_of_hamnet._omega-_journal_of_death_and_dying_64.1_april_2011-12-_29-40.pdf) [Zhong, Chen-Bo, and Katie Liljenquist. "Washing Away Your Sins: Threatened Morality and Physical Cleansing.” Science 313.5792 (2006): 1451-52.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/zhong_chen-bo_and_katie_liljenquist._22washing_away_your_sins-_threatened_morality_and_physical_cleansing._science_313.5792_2006-_1451-52.pdf) ### Religious Studies expand\_more [Reinhard, Julia Lupton. "The Religious Turn (to Theory) in Shakespeare Studies," English Language Notes 44 (2006): 145-49.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/reinhard_julia_lupton._22the_religious_turn_to_theory_in_shakespeare_studies22_english_language_notes_44_2006-_145-49.pdf) ### Slavic Languages and Literatures expand\_more [Shaw, George Bernard. "Better than Shakespeare?” Three Plays for Puritans. London: Constable and Co., 1901. xxviii-xxxvii.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/shaw_george_bernard._22better_than_shakespeare_three_plays_for_puritans._london-_constable_and_co._1901._xxviii-xxxvii.pdf)​​​​​​​ [Tolstoy, Leo. Tolstoy on Shakespeare. Trans. V. Tcherkoff. New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1906. ](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/tolstoy_leo._tolstoy_on_shakespeare._trans._v._tcherkoff._new_york-_funk_wagnalls_company_1906.pdf) ### Sociology expand\_more [Driscoll, R., K. E. Davis, and M. E. Lipetz. “Parental Interference and Romantic Love: The Romeo & Juliet Effect." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 24 (1972): 1-10.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/driscoll_r._k._e._davis_and_m._e._lipetz._parental_interference_and_romantic_love-_the_romeo_juliet_effect.22_journal_of_personality_and_social_psychology_24_1972-_1-10.pdf) Sunstein, Cass R. “Bacon is Shakespeare.” *On Rumors: How Falsehoods Spread, Why We Believe Them, and What Can Be Done*. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2014. 91-100. ### Statistics expand\_more [Craig, Hugh. "Shakespeare's Vocabulary: Myth and Reality." Shakespeare Quarterly 62.1 (2011): 53-74.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/craig_hugh._22shakespeares_vocabulary-_myth_and_reality.22_shakespeare_quarterly_62.1_2011-_53-74.pdf) [Estill, Laura, Dominic Klyve, and Kate Bridal. “ ‘Spare your arithmetic, never count the turns’: A Statistical Analysis of Writing about Shakespeare, 1960–2010.” Shakespeare Quarterly 66.1 (2015): 1-28.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/estill_laura_dominic_klyve_and_kate_bridal._spare_your_arithmetic_never_count_the_turns-_a_statistical_analysis_of_writing_about_shakespeare_1960-2010._shakespeare_quarterly_66.1_2015-_1-28.pdf) ### Women's Studies expand\_more [Dusinberre, Juliet. "Shakespeare." Shakespeare and the Nature of Women. London: Macmillan, 1975. 305-09.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/dusinberre_juliet._22shakespeare.22_shakespeare_and_the_nature_of_women._london-_macmillan_1975._305-09.pdf) [Montrose, Louis. " 'Shaping Fantasies': Figurations of Gender and Power in Elizabethan Culture." Representations 2 (Spring 1983): 61-94.](http://scholar.harvard.edu/os_fast/files/jeffreywilson/montrose_louis._22_shaping_fantasies-_figurations_of_gender_and_power_in_elizabethan_culture.22_representations_2_spring_1983-_61-94.pdf)