404F Fall 2026 Staging England’s Story: Shakespeare’s Major History Plays

Through the experience of three kings, Shakespeare traced England’s passage from the medieval to the early modern world. One king tragically misunderstood the exercise of power; the second usurped the crown and unleashed civil war; the third abandoned his riotous youth to become the greatest of the Lancastrian kings. We will read the plays that tell this story: Richard II, Henry IV (Parts 1 and 2), and Henry V, spending two sessions on each. Separately and together, these plays raise complex questions about power, politics, and leadership. As we grapple with them, we’ll look at Shakespeare’s creation of characters who embody the competing forces that a successful ruler must harness. We’ll investigate the dramatic and theatrical resources Shakespeare employed to give each play its distinctive sound and feel. We’ll also consider whether his exploration of political, moral, and social upheaval lets us see in the world of these plays an image of our own.

Susan McCloskey received her Ph.D. in English Literature from Princeton University, taught at Vassar College, and spent a memorable year as the dramaturg for the Classic Stage Company in New York City.