James Newlin and James W. Stone, "New Psychoanalytic Readings of Shakespeare: Cool Reason and Seething Brains" (Routledge, 2023)
Sep 6, 2023
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Dr. Richard Waugaman challenges traditional theories about Shakespeare's authorship, proposing the Earl of Oxford as the true writer. They discuss the psychological complexity in Shakespeare's plays and its relevance in understanding human behavior. The chapter explores the controversy surrounding Shakespeare's authorship and the resistance of scholars and psychoanalysts. They touch on academic freedom, groupthink, and historical cases of resistance to new ideas. The chapter also discusses projective identification in politics and domestic violence.
Resistance to alternative authorship theories in Shakespeare studies highlights the phenomenon of groupthink and the reluctance to challenge long-standing beliefs.
Understanding projective identification in Shakespeare's plays can enhance our appreciation of psychological depth in literature and shed light on complex character dynamics.
Deep dives
The Controversy Surrounding the Authorship of Shakespeare's Works
Dr. Richard Wageman, a clinical professor of psychiatry and author, explores the debate over the true authorship of William Shakespeare's works. He discusses the theory that the Earl of Oxford, Edward Devere, was the real Shakespeare, presenting evidence from the marked passages in Oxford's Bible that correlate with phrases found in Shakespeare's works. Wageman highlights the resistance from Shakespeare scholars to consider alternative authorship theories, citing the phenomenon of groupthink and the reluctance to challenge long-standing beliefs. He emphasizes the importance of tolerating complexity and considering alternative perspectives in the study of literature and the arts.
The Influence of Groupthink on Shakespeare Scholarship
Wageman delves into the concept of groupthink, discussing how it influences the acceptance or rejection of alternative authorship theories. He provides examples from various fields, such as Ignaz Semmelweis' discovery of handwashing in medicine and Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift in geology, where initial ridicule and rejection were later followed by acceptance. Wageman suggests that groupthink fosters a reluctance to question established beliefs and stifles intellectual curiosity, which can hinder the pursuit of truth and academic freedom.
Projective Identification in Shakespeare's Works
Wageman explores the concept of projective identification in Shakespeare's plays, specifically focusing on Hamlet and Ophelia's relationship. He speculates that Hamlet, grappling with his own suicidal impulses, may unconsciously projectively identify with Ophelia, driving her to madness and enacting his own desires through her. Wageman suggests that understanding projective identification in the context of Shakespeare's works can shed light on the complex dynamics between characters and enhance our appreciation of psychological depth in literature.
The Potential Contribution of Clinical Psychoanalysis to Shakespeare Studies
Wageman asserts the value of clinical psychoanalysis in enriching Shakespeare studies. He argues that the perspective of clinicians, with their understanding of unconscious processes and individual psychology, can offer fresh insights into the interpretation of Shakespeare's works. Wageman emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and open-minded exploration of alternative authorship theories, challenging the resistance to change within the academic community and advocating for a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to literary analysis.
Dr. Richard Waugaman is an emeritus supervising and training analyst at the Washington Baltimore Center for Psychoanalysis. He is also a well-respected author.
With regard to his career he has said, “I have practiced clinical psychoanalysis for over 40 years. Initially, my publications were mostly on psychoanalysis.”
In 2002, he made a discovery when he learned that the traditional theory about who wrote Shakespeare is faith-based, not evidence-based. As he plunged deeply into primary research on this exciting topic, he learned that the Geneva Bible owned by the Earl of Oxford, now at the Folger Shakespeare Library, has marginalia and under-linings that Roger Stritmatter shows correspond closely with biblical echoes in Shakespeare. He then researched the Whole Book of Psalms and discovered it was the largest Psalms literary source for Shakespeare. He has also published evidence that many other Elizabethan works were also written by the Earl of Oxford anonymously, using pen names, or allonyms.