Lecture on “Bartlett’s Familiar Shakespeare: The Pleasures and Pitfalls of Quotation”

September 30, 2005

Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.

Thursday evening, Marjorie Garber, professor of English and American Literature and Language and of Visual and Environmental Studies at Harvard University (and member of the Swarthmore Class of ’66), gave the first of a series of interdisciplinary lectures sponsored in part by the William J. Cooper Foundation on “Perspectives in the Humanities.” Professor Garber’s lecture “Bartlett’s Familiar Shakespeare: The Pleasures and Pitfalls of Quotation” questioned the ubiquitous use of Shakespearean quotations as sources of Shakespeare’s personal opinions and wisdom.

Garber challenged that the perpetual quoting and misquoting of Shakespearean characters in popular culture, the media, and politics resulted in “phrases floating free” without the context of character or plot to properly understand their meaning. By asserting that “Shakespeare said” a certain statement, speakers make use of a shortcut to increase their own authority without actually considering whether the statement in any way reflects Shakespeare’s opinions.

Sample advertisement

In fact, Garber explained, a closer examination of the sources of quotations reveals that it is next to impossible to discern Shakespeare’s personal beliefs regarding an issue as Shakespeare continually presents contrasting arguments regarding various topics, offering each side of the debate an equally eloquent voice. Taking the words of each character to be an absolute truth, therefore, is a mistake as Shakespeare’s characters and situations are full of contradiction.

Instead, Garber advocates that students of Shakespeare interested in his beliefs look at “the interplay of voices” rather than cutting out one or two lines of wittily arranged dialogue as is so conveniently presented by quotation books like those of John Bartlett. Quoting Shakespeare, Garber concluded, can only be beneficial, but one should take great care before trying to transform Shakespeare into a moral guide or source of ethical advice.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Previous Story

My missing memory: psychologist links learning and the brain

Next Story

Kay Redfield Jamison explores link between madness and creativity

Latest from Sports

Athlete of the Week: Lauren Lior ’27

Swarthmore women’s soccer forward Lauren Lior ’27 hails from Fairfield, CT, and is a graduate of Greens Farms Academy. During her first year with the Garnet, she had a stellar season, breaking into the starting lineup, and cementing herself as an integral

WSOC Day in the Life: Away Game vs. Muhlenberg College

As we head into the middle of the fall semester, Swarthmore’s sports schedules will become increasingly busy. While exams and paper deadlines approach quickly, varsity athletic teams plunge into the middle of conference play, when the significance of winning is the most

Swinging Through the Glass Ceiling 

The Swarthmore men’s golf team has welcomed numerous women as walk-on players over the years. Currently there are two female players competing on the men’s team: Ava Chon ’26 and Bori Chung ’28. Chon is a senior from Princeton, NJ, who went

Athlete of the Week: Melissa Eyer ’28

Melissa Eyer '28 runs the volleyball court with her elite ball control and defensive capabilities. Read on to hear more about her fourth Centennial Athlete of the Week selection!
Previous Story

My missing memory: psychologist links learning and the brain

Next Story

Kay Redfield Jamison explores link between madness and creativity

The Phoenix

Don't Miss