This is an excellent summary of your transformative discovery of the origin of the plays of Shakespeare, the best works of literature in the English language. Thank you Dennis McCarthy for crediting Thomas North’s life, his deep scholarship, and his poetic brilliance for those works.
Ovid:The Roman poet Ovid was a major influence on Shakespeare's early work, particularly his narrative poems like Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece. Ovid's Metamorphoses, a collection of mythological stories, was a popular school text in Shakespeare's time, and Shakespeare's deep familiarity with it is evident in his plays.
Plutarch: The Greek biographer Plutarch was another important source for Shakespeare. Plutarch's Parallel Lives, which compared the lives of famous Greeks and Romans, provided the basis for Shakespeare's Roman plays, such as Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra.
Seneca: The Roman Stoic philosopher and playwright Seneca also influenced Shakespeare. Seneca's tragedies, known for their themes of revenge and violence, likely influenced Shakespeare's own tragedies, such as Hamlet and Macbeth.
Plautus: Roman playwright
Aristotle: Greek philosopher
Cicero: Roman statesman, lawyer, and orator
Short Bio’s
Ovid (43 BC – 17/18 AD): A Roman poet best known for his works Metamorphoses (a collection of mythological tales) and Ars Amatoria (The Art of Love). His witty and elegant verse had a huge impact on European literature, including Shakespeare. Ovid was eventually exiled from Rome by Emperor Augustus, though the reasons why remain uncertain.m Ovid's tales from mythology were a treasure trove of stories for other writers.
Plutarch (c. 46 – 120 AD): A Greek biographer and essayist, most famous for his Parallel Lives. In this work, he compared the lives of famous Greeks and Romans, often drawing moral lessons. Shakespeare drew heavily on Parallel Lives for his Roman plays like Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra. Plutarch provided Shakespeare with the historical framework and character inspiration for some of his greatest tragedies.
Seneca the Younger (c. 4 BC – 65 AD): A Roman Stoic philosopher, playwright, and statesman. He served as advisor to Emperor Nero. His tragedies, known for their intensity and bloody violence, were rediscovered in the Renaissance and likely influenced Shakespeare's tragedies. Seneca's plays explored themes of revenge, morality, and fate, which resonated with Shakespeare's own tragic vision.
Cicero (106 BC – 43 BC): A Roman statesman, lawyer, and orator considered one of the greatest prose stylists in Latin. His speeches and philosophical writings were highly influential during the Renaissance. While not a direct source for Shakespeare's plots, Cicero's ideas about rhetoric and political philosophy likely informed Shakespeare's work. Cicero's emphasis on persuasive language and the power of speech would have resonated with Shakespeare, the master of dramatic language.
Plautus (c. 254 – 184 BC): A Roman comic playwright. His farcical plays, full of slapstick humor and stock characters, were very popular. Shakespeare probably knew Plautus's work through translations and adaptations, and some scholars see his influence in Shakespeare's comedies.
Plautus's comedies provided a model for lively, fast-paced humor that Shakespeare adapted for his own stage.
Socrates (c. 470 – 399 BC): An Athenian philosopher and one of the founders of Western philosophy. Socrates didn't write anything himself, but his ideas are known through the writings of his students, Plato and Xenophon. While not a direct influence on Shakespeare's plots, Socrates' emphasis on questioning, reason, and self-knowledge had a profound impact on Western thought, which indirectly shaped the intellectual world Shakespeare inhabited. Socrates' focus on human nature and the search for truth are underlying themes in many of Shakespeare's plays, even if Socrates isn't explicitly mentioned.
Shakespeare was definitely influenced by Italian theater:
Commedia dell'Arte: This highly improvisational style of comedy, with its stock characters like Harlequin and Pantalone, was hugely popular in Italy and toured throughout Europe. Shakespeare likely saw some of these performances, and you can see echoes of Commedia in his comedies. Think of the quick wit and physical humor of characters like Falstaff in Henry IV or the clowns in Twelfth Night.
Influence on structure: Even some of the structures Shakespeare used, like the five-act format, were becoming common in Italian theater before England.
Italian Plays and Novellas: Many of Shakespeare's plots have direct roots in Italian stories. Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, and Othello all have strong connections to Italian novellas and plays. He borrowed plots and characters but, of course, made them his own with his incredible language and psychological depth.
Tragicomedy: This genre, blending tragic and comic elements, was formalized in Italy before becoming popular in England. Shakespeare's later plays, like Cymbeline, The Winter's Tale, and The Tempest, show a clear influence of Italian tragicomedy.
Setting: It's striking how many of Shakespeare's plays are set in Italy! This reflects the English fascination with Italian culture during the Renaissance. Italy was seen as a place of passion, beauty, and intrigue – perfect for dramatic storytelling.
My long struggles continue in another arena where I have expertise: (https://medium.com/@vicmdatg, Tso JV, Froelicher V. Can the outlier percentiles from norms increase the sensitivity of the ECG criteria for screening athletes?. Progress in cardiovascular diseases. 2024;86:93-5.) I really can't expect to be appreciated in my life time given my age which is 20 yrs senior to you, but you have a better chance of being appreciated.
Respectfully, can I offer another approach. Instead of "associating" Shakespeare with plagiarism, tell the story from another point of view: how North and Shakespeare "saved" the classics. Ovid, Plutarch, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, the Italian Renaissance Theatre achieved widespread exposure (if not credit) thanks to North and Shakespeare. North was the brilliant translator and writer, Shakespeare was the producer, actor and money man. And don't forget Heminge and Condell for the first Folio (which now is available in facsimile for the Shakespearean without millions) (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/084787382X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1).
This makes for a more positive story that should be more widely accepted (... in your life time)
Absolutely brilliant. Yes, agreed. This would be a good way to do it: "tell the story from another point of view: how North and Shakespeare "saved" the classics. Ovid, Plutarch, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, the Italian Renaissance Theatre achieved widespread exposure (if not credit) thanks to North and Shakespeare. North was the brilliant translator and writer, Shakespeare was the producer, actor and money man. And don't forget Heminge and Condell for the first Folio (which now is available in facsimile for the Shakespearean without millions)"
Another thing to address (if you haven't somewhere and I've missed it, my apologies) as part of your intellectual project here is what constitutes the "genius" in the work of Shakespeare itself (Hanania has argued on his Substack that it's likely the study of literature itself has perhaps exaggerated the genius of past literary works - https://www.richardhanania.com/p/the-case-against-most-books - interested in your thoughts on this take).
Your position on wrt to the alternative Shakespeare theory is that North is the primary when it comes to the genius of the work. But most the content of your argument appears to be predicate, demonstrating that North was a source for Shakespeare, rather than the genius argument directly. Obviously it is important to established the predicate, and it's good for your position that you have some good evidence of it!
This is an excellent summary of your transformative discovery of the origin of the plays of Shakespeare, the best works of literature in the English language. Thank you Dennis McCarthy for crediting Thomas North’s life, his deep scholarship, and his poetic brilliance for those works.
Just a reminder to respond to Hanania, who thinks Shakes…oops, I mean North, is overrated. This could lead to a boxing match. $100 on the Irishman.
Influences in Shakespearean Writing
Ovid:The Roman poet Ovid was a major influence on Shakespeare's early work, particularly his narrative poems like Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece. Ovid's Metamorphoses, a collection of mythological stories, was a popular school text in Shakespeare's time, and Shakespeare's deep familiarity with it is evident in his plays.
Plutarch: The Greek biographer Plutarch was another important source for Shakespeare. Plutarch's Parallel Lives, which compared the lives of famous Greeks and Romans, provided the basis for Shakespeare's Roman plays, such as Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra.
Seneca: The Roman Stoic philosopher and playwright Seneca also influenced Shakespeare. Seneca's tragedies, known for their themes of revenge and violence, likely influenced Shakespeare's own tragedies, such as Hamlet and Macbeth.
Plautus: Roman playwright
Aristotle: Greek philosopher
Cicero: Roman statesman, lawyer, and orator
Short Bio’s
Ovid (43 BC – 17/18 AD): A Roman poet best known for his works Metamorphoses (a collection of mythological tales) and Ars Amatoria (The Art of Love). His witty and elegant verse had a huge impact on European literature, including Shakespeare. Ovid was eventually exiled from Rome by Emperor Augustus, though the reasons why remain uncertain.m Ovid's tales from mythology were a treasure trove of stories for other writers.
Plutarch (c. 46 – 120 AD): A Greek biographer and essayist, most famous for his Parallel Lives. In this work, he compared the lives of famous Greeks and Romans, often drawing moral lessons. Shakespeare drew heavily on Parallel Lives for his Roman plays like Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra. Plutarch provided Shakespeare with the historical framework and character inspiration for some of his greatest tragedies.
Seneca the Younger (c. 4 BC – 65 AD): A Roman Stoic philosopher, playwright, and statesman. He served as advisor to Emperor Nero. His tragedies, known for their intensity and bloody violence, were rediscovered in the Renaissance and likely influenced Shakespeare's tragedies. Seneca's plays explored themes of revenge, morality, and fate, which resonated with Shakespeare's own tragic vision.
Cicero (106 BC – 43 BC): A Roman statesman, lawyer, and orator considered one of the greatest prose stylists in Latin. His speeches and philosophical writings were highly influential during the Renaissance. While not a direct source for Shakespeare's plots, Cicero's ideas about rhetoric and political philosophy likely informed Shakespeare's work. Cicero's emphasis on persuasive language and the power of speech would have resonated with Shakespeare, the master of dramatic language.
Plautus (c. 254 – 184 BC): A Roman comic playwright. His farcical plays, full of slapstick humor and stock characters, were very popular. Shakespeare probably knew Plautus's work through translations and adaptations, and some scholars see his influence in Shakespeare's comedies.
Plautus's comedies provided a model for lively, fast-paced humor that Shakespeare adapted for his own stage.
Socrates (c. 470 – 399 BC): An Athenian philosopher and one of the founders of Western philosophy. Socrates didn't write anything himself, but his ideas are known through the writings of his students, Plato and Xenophon. While not a direct influence on Shakespeare's plots, Socrates' emphasis on questioning, reason, and self-knowledge had a profound impact on Western thought, which indirectly shaped the intellectual world Shakespeare inhabited. Socrates' focus on human nature and the search for truth are underlying themes in many of Shakespeare's plays, even if Socrates isn't explicitly mentioned.
Shakespeare was definitely influenced by Italian theater:
Commedia dell'Arte: This highly improvisational style of comedy, with its stock characters like Harlequin and Pantalone, was hugely popular in Italy and toured throughout Europe. Shakespeare likely saw some of these performances, and you can see echoes of Commedia in his comedies. Think of the quick wit and physical humor of characters like Falstaff in Henry IV or the clowns in Twelfth Night.
Influence on structure: Even some of the structures Shakespeare used, like the five-act format, were becoming common in Italian theater before England.
Italian Plays and Novellas: Many of Shakespeare's plots have direct roots in Italian stories. Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, and Othello all have strong connections to Italian novellas and plays. He borrowed plots and characters but, of course, made them his own with his incredible language and psychological depth.
Tragicomedy: This genre, blending tragic and comic elements, was formalized in Italy before becoming popular in England. Shakespeare's later plays, like Cymbeline, The Winter's Tale, and The Tempest, show a clear influence of Italian tragicomedy.
Setting: It's striking how many of Shakespeare's plays are set in Italy! This reflects the English fascination with Italian culture during the Renaissance. Italy was seen as a place of passion, beauty, and intrigue – perfect for dramatic storytelling.
Another brilliant summary! Keep up the good work. I do hope that you are recognized for your brilliance, hard work and persistence.
I wish I could help you. Certainly your partner (https://www.amazon.com/stores/Michael-Blanding/author) has helped with his book which is an incredible summary of Elizabethan politics.
My long struggles continue in another arena where I have expertise: (https://medium.com/@vicmdatg, Tso JV, Froelicher V. Can the outlier percentiles from norms increase the sensitivity of the ECG criteria for screening athletes?. Progress in cardiovascular diseases. 2024;86:93-5.) I really can't expect to be appreciated in my life time given my age which is 20 yrs senior to you, but you have a better chance of being appreciated.
Respectfully, can I offer another approach. Instead of "associating" Shakespeare with plagiarism, tell the story from another point of view: how North and Shakespeare "saved" the classics. Ovid, Plutarch, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, the Italian Renaissance Theatre achieved widespread exposure (if not credit) thanks to North and Shakespeare. North was the brilliant translator and writer, Shakespeare was the producer, actor and money man. And don't forget Heminge and Condell for the first Folio (which now is available in facsimile for the Shakespearean without millions) (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/084787382X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1).
This makes for a more positive story that should be more widely accepted (... in your life time)
Vic
Absolutely brilliant. Yes, agreed. This would be a good way to do it: "tell the story from another point of view: how North and Shakespeare "saved" the classics. Ovid, Plutarch, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, the Italian Renaissance Theatre achieved widespread exposure (if not credit) thanks to North and Shakespeare. North was the brilliant translator and writer, Shakespeare was the producer, actor and money man. And don't forget Heminge and Condell for the first Folio (which now is available in facsimile for the Shakespearean without millions)"
Thanks for kind words, Dennis. I'm flattered!
Another thing to address (if you haven't somewhere and I've missed it, my apologies) as part of your intellectual project here is what constitutes the "genius" in the work of Shakespeare itself (Hanania has argued on his Substack that it's likely the study of literature itself has perhaps exaggerated the genius of past literary works - https://www.richardhanania.com/p/the-case-against-most-books - interested in your thoughts on this take).
Your position on wrt to the alternative Shakespeare theory is that North is the primary when it comes to the genius of the work. But most the content of your argument appears to be predicate, demonstrating that North was a source for Shakespeare, rather than the genius argument directly. Obviously it is important to established the predicate, and it's good for your position that you have some good evidence of it!