
Michael McShane on Shakespeare's King Lear
From The New Thinkery by The New Thinkery
May 14, 2025 · 1h 22m · Episode 251
About this episode
Michael McShane joins Greg and Alex to discuss the structural and philosophical dimensions of Shakespeare's King Lear.
Recorded at the most recent ACTC conference , this episode features Michael McShane—educator, writer, and Shakespearean interlocutor—in a wide-ranging discussion of King Lear with both Greg and Alex. The group examine the play's structural and philosophical dimensions, from the politics of authority and the aesthetics of suffering to questions of justice, recognition, and the limits of language. McShane brings a scholarly yet accessible lens to one of Shakespeare's most harrowing tragedies. Plus: the guys turn it over to the crowd and field a range of questions from the audience!
People in this episode
Hosts: Greg, Alex
Guest: Michael McShane
Topics covered
- Shakespeare
- King Lear
- philosophy
- authority
- justice
- language
Keywords
- Shakespeare
- King Lear
- philosophy
- authority
- justice
- recognition
- language
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: King Lear
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