This sorority includes Joan of Arc, Katherine from The Taming of the Shrew, Tamara from Titus Andronicus and others. These characters eventually give way to women who claim themselves by traveling incognito, free of social constraints. Examples include such comedies as Twelfth Night and The Merchant of Venice. On the other hand, tragedies written during Shakespeare's middle period donot disguise women truth-tellers and the characters wind up mad, dead or both as they struggle toward authentic representation of themselves in Othello and Hamlet. During the last phase of Shakespeare's work, daughters redeem fathers in Cymbeline, The Winter's Tale and The Tempest.
All events are free.
Packer says that although the presentations will focus on Shakespeare's own artistic and psychological development, the insights found in this territory also have a much broader application. She adds that the appeal to theater and literature majors is obvious, but students in other disciplines, such as women's studies, history, political science, sociology and psychology, will no doubt find food for their fields of thought as well. It's a large journey, but one I've found worth taking. We need theater to build community by helping us look together at the big questions of life. In addition to her Women of Will Trilogy, Packer will work with theatre and drama students.