Critical Readings

The panel reads Act III of Hamlet with attention to Hamlet's feigned (or semi-feigned) madness, his suicidal or existentially fatalistic attitude, and the instability and even fatal measure of his interactions with Ophelia, Polonius, and Queen Gertrude.Continue reading

The panel dives into parsing Shakespearean language, making complex syntax accessible. They analyze Polonius' scheming and his hilariously pompous style. Discussions revolve around Hamlet's feigned madness and his clever wordplay. They explore how Polonius uses Ophelia to spy on Hamlet and the arrival of the players as a means to test Claudius's guilt. The conversation touches on the intricacies of performance, authority, and the moral implications of theater, showcasing Shakespeare's genius in evoking multiple interpretations.

The panel reads the first act of William Shakespeare's Hamlet, providing an overview of the action and the textual history, with selected readings from within the five scenes paying particular attention to puns, irony, and the mirroring of characters.Continue reading

The panel discusses the concluding volume of Frankenstein, beginning with Victor's narration of his series of personal tragedies and ending with Captain Walton's letter describing the death of Victor and the monster's final, vengeful resolve.Continue reading

The panel discusses the second volume of Frankenstein (chapters 8–16) focusing on the moral qualities of Victor Frankenstein and of his creature, their connexion to Paradise Lost, and the dangerous results of mankind usurping the creative place of God.Continue reading

Dr. Madeline Potter discusses Mary Shelley's influences and the creation of Frankenstein. They analyze the framing structure, challenges in creating narrative voice, and blurring boundaries in the novel. The concept of monstrosity is explored and contrasting views on happiness and the sublime are discussed. The message of Frankenstein, its themes of responsibility and monstrous children, and the protagonist's evasion of responsibility are also analyzed.

The panel reads and discusses "God's Grandeur", "Thou art indeed just, Lord, if I contend", and "The Windhover", attending to their Romantic underpinnings, anticipation of modern poetic developments, and formal characteristics including 'sprung rhythm'.Continue reading

In the final episode on Moby Dick, the panel discusses the fulfilment of Fedallah's prophecy and his death, Starbuck's dilemma and despair, the destruction of the Pequod, the death of Ahab, Ishmael on the margins, and some final genre considerations.Continue reading

In the penultimate Moby Dick episode, the panel discusses chapters 114–128, focusing on the ship's sails, quadrant, compass, and line; the refashioning of the Pequod into the expression of Ahab's will; and Ahab's final abandonment of his humanity.Continue reading

The panel discusses the Ahab's representation as a wrathful, inhuman avatar of anti-nature, the hellish nature of the Pequod, the sorcerous conniving of the captain and crew, and the abandonment of every comfort and sentiment in search of Moby Dick.Continue reading