Shakespeare and Religion

John Cox

doi:10.3390/rel9110343

Abstract

Shakespeare’s personal religious affiliation is impossible to determine. Nearly all the books published about him in the last ten years eschew an earlier attempt to identify him as Catholic and focus, instead, on the plays, not the playwright. Some attention has been paid to Judaism and Islam, but Christianity is the overwhelming favorite. Nearly all of these books include a discussion of Measure for Measure, the only play Shakespeare wrote with a biblical title and a central concern with Christian ethics. Though there is some inevitable overlap, each writer approaches religion in the plays differently.

Highlights

Shakespeare’s personal religious affiliation is impossible to determine
Measure for Measure, the only play Shakespeare wrote with a biblical title and a central concern with
Though Queen Elizabeth’s government recognized only one true faith in Shakespeare’s England, four distinct religions are discernible in his plays and poems: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and the state religion of ancient Rome

Summary

Introduction

Shakespeare’s personal religious affiliation is impossible to determine. most the books published about him in the last ten years eschew an earlier attempt to identify him as Catholic and focus, instead, on the plays, not the playwright. Most scholars have recently addressed the issue of Shakespeare and religion by recognizing that the plays are both Catholic and Protestant.

Results

Conclusion