War and William Shakespeare

‘Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead.’ Henry V

In honor of the anniversary of the Bard’s birthday on April 23rd, the staff would like to share some resources on William Shakespeare (April 23, 1564 – April 23, 1616) and war. 

A poet, playwright, actor, and courtier in the court of Queen Elizabeth I, William Shakespeare left a literary treasure trove that is still heavily studied by scholars today.  As a student of the human condition, he wrote about love and war extensively.  His history plays, like Henry V, have notable battle scenes.  Think Agincourt (1415).

So, it is no wonder that students at the military academies read Shakespeare as part of their English courses.  Elizabeth D. Samet, a English literature professor, discussed this topic at the Museum & Library in 2008 and in her book Soldier’s Heart: Reading Literature through Peace and War at West Point.

Because what is past is prologue.

In 2016, the Museum & Library partners with the Chicago Shakespeare Company to showcase programming the connection between Shakespeare and war. You can watch these programs below:

1. Shakespeare and the Citizen Soldier: Tug of War
2. Becoming Shakespeare's Soldier
3. Shakespeare and the Citizen Soldier: Warrior to Shakespearean Actor, Stephan Wolfert
4. Shakespeare and the Citizen Soldier: Shakespeare's Weaponry