Shakespeare's Outsiders

About this episode

The episode explores how Shakespeare's plays address themes of identity and status, and their relevance to contemporary issues of inclusion and exclusion.

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/shakespeares-outsiders. Over 400 years after his death, Shakespeare is still widely regarded as the greatest dramatist of all time. His many plays tackle questions about power, influence, identity, and moral and social status. His characters—be they villains or heroes—are often disdained because of their race, religion, class, disability, or gender. So what do Shakespeare’s plays reveal about identity and status in his time? How might they shed light on who we include and who we exclude today? Could Shakespearian dramas have more in common with modern day soap operas than we think? Ray and guest-host Adrian Daub go inside with David Sterling Brown from Trinity College in Hartford, author of "Shakespeare's White Others."

People in this episode

Host: Ray

Guest: Adrian Daub

Topics covered

• identity
• status
• exclusion
• Shakespeare
• drama
• modern parallels

Keywords

• Shakespeare
• identity
• status
• exclusion
• drama
• modern soap operas
• Adrian Daub
• David Sterling Brown

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Trinity College

Books & works: Shakespeare's White Others, Shakespeare

More episodes of Philosophy Talk: Select Episodes

• Dostoevsky and Doubting Faith · May 11, 2026 · 4 min
• "Select Episodes" is ending · March 1, 2026 · 1 min
• Can Money Buy Well-being? · February 14, 2026 · 51 min
• Anna Julia Cooper · January 30, 2026 · 52 min
• The Examined Year: 2025 · January 1, 2026 · 1 min
• Gilbert Ryle and the Map of the Mind · January 1, 2026 · 1 min