Series: Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought

History:

10 - 15th Centuries CE 

Parsha:

Bereishit 

Collections: Twice Blest: Exploring Shakespeare and the Hebrew Bible

Description

If, as we’re told in the Hebrew Bible, "God saw all that He had made, and behold it was very good" (Genesis 1:31), how are we to understand physical imperfection? As "mistakes" by the divine? Manifestations of malfeasance? Or misinterpretations of creation? In this episode, Dr. Jeffrey R. Wilson explains the discourses of theology, physiognomy, and monstrosity that influenced Shakespeare’s representation of Richard III’s misshapen body and behavior, as well as the ongoing implications of relating internal essence and external appearance.