The Art of Manliness

Shakespeare on How Leaders Rise, Rule, and Fall

Feb 5, 2024

Eliot Cohen, a military historian and political scientist, dives into Shakespeare's insights on power dynamics. He explores how the Bard’s histories reveal the complexities of acquiring, exercising, and losing power. Cohen draws parallels between Shakespearean characters like Coriolanus and historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln, illustrating the moral ambiguities of ambition. The discussion highlights leadership challenges in both literature and modern contexts, showing how Shakespeare's narratives remain relevant in today's political landscape.

51:20

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Episode guests

Eliot Cohen

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Quick takeaways

Shakespeare's plays illustrate different ways leaders acquire power and the lasting consequences it can have.

True leadership involves inspiring and influencing people, while effectively managing and commanding.

Shakespeare's plays highlight the negative consequences of arrogance and self-deception in leaders, emphasizing the importance of humility and self-awareness.

Deep dives

Main Ideas Overview

The podcast episode explores the dynamics of power in Shakespeare's plays and how they relate to leadership in real life. It discusses the three-part arc of power: acquiring power, exercising power, and losing power. Examples from plays like Henry IV, Macbeth, and Julius Caesar are used to highlight the different aspects of power and leadership. The episode also touches on manipulation, arrogance, and the importance of self-awareness in leadership.

Ambition and Power

00:56

The Power and Humility in Shakespeare's Henry VIII

01:21

Intro

5min

Shakespearean Leadership in Modern Contexts

16min

Cunning and Legitimacy in Shakespearean Leadership

2min

Shakespeare on Ambition and Power

10min

The Consequences of Seizing Power in Shakespeare

2min

Exploring Leadership, Management, and Command

3min

Leadership Dynamics in Shakespeare

17min

Exploring Leadership Through Literature

3min

When people think of the plays of Shakespeare, they tend to think of his comedies and tragedies that spotlight interpersonal dynamics like love and jealousy, pretense and reality. But my guest would say that many of Shakepeare's plays, especially his sometimes overlooked histories, are also unmatchable in revealing the dynamics of power.

Eliot Cohen is a military historian, political scientist, professor of international studies, and former State Department counselor, as well as the author of The Hollow Crown: Shakespeare on How Leaders Rise, Rule, and Fall. Today on the show Eliot takes us through what Shakepeare's plays can teach us about navigating the three-part arc of power: acquiring power, exercising power, and losing power. Along the way, we discuss how these lessons in leadership played out in the lives of real-life historical figures as well.