Prof. Indrajeet Mishra - Introduction

[00:00:15]Hello everyone. I welcome you all in the course entitled Exploring Renaissance Sensibilities in the plays of Christopher Malo, William Shakespeare and John Webster. I am professor Indrajit Mishra working in the department of English DABPG college admitted to the privileges of Banaras Hindu University. Dear learners, I have prepared a 4-week course from Swang platform for the students of UG and PG with Dr. Aradna Singh who will deal with the last week of the course. The plays of Shakespeare and Marlo Magbet and Dr. Fosters are prescribed in UG third semester NEP course and the Renaissance and Edwardian age are part of UG fifth semester. The purpose of the course is to introduce the students to the meaning, origin and characteristics of the age of renaissance and its contemporary relevance. The first week focuses on the chief characteristics of Renaissance, a brief history of English drama and contribution of Marlo to the growth of English drama. His plays like Dr. Fosters and Edward are discussed in detail in the light of Renaissance spirit of humanism, individualism, skepticism and classical learning. This tragedy represents the spirit of Renaissance par excellence. His characters are driven by basic human instincts which represent the passion of the contemporary people. Dr. Fosters is drawn to the magical powers in his attempt to become a demigod. In the second week, Shakespeare's Magbet and Antony and Cleopetra are explained from Magbet perspectives such as sin and retribution, ambition versus morality, the role of supernatural elements in Magbet and the subversive violence of Lady Magbet are discussed in detail. The play Anthony and Cleopetra is analyzed in the light of Renaissance spirit and how love can bring immortality and eternity is discussed.

[00:02:30]Magbet and Antony and Cleopetra of Shakespeare represent two very contrasting traits of human personality.

[00:02:38]The former is power hungry and stakes his peace of mind for the sake of power.

[00:02:45]Whereas the later Antony has staked his kingdom, family and soldiers reputation for the sake of love of Cleopetra, the scintillating beauty from the east. Love brings immortality to the lovers and even if losing the battle, they emerge as victorious, hoping that their souls will reunite in the heaven. The third week is exclusively dedicated to the study of various perspectives in Hamlet.

[00:03:14]The magnum opus of Shakespeare in which an endeavor is made to clarify the complex issues such as how it belongs to the category of a revenge play and how it transcends that category. The most discussed problem of madness is critically examined and the problem of delay is analyzed in depth. The other features like Hamlet as an ideal tragic hero, his introspective and retrospective nature is explored. As far as Hamlet is concerned, the enigmatic character who represents worldwaress and also the global self-consciousness and mythical stature is the most popular and uh very famous among the fictive characters created till date. the staggering contradictions and his unveiling the secrets of life's most crucial subjects like human life, death, afterlife, faith and doubt are all discussed at length. The fourth week comprises two plays, The Tempest and the Duchess of Malfi which are dealt by Dr. Aradna Singh. The theme of freedom, forgiveness, and reconciliation in the tempest and prostination towards learning and adventure are discussed in detail. Alongside in the duchess of malfi, the themes of evil, corruption and moral inversion are explored. The course is very interesting as well as beneficial for the students and it is free of charge. Therefore, I invite you all to join the course. Thank you. Thank you very much.