RENÉ GIRARD’S THEATRE OF ENVY

René Girard argues that the 10th Commandment against coveting, or envy, explains every other sin in the Bible, starting with Adam and Eve coveting God’s knowledge of good and evil. Overcoming that envy is at the heart of Christ’s Passion. Shakespeare, he argues, would agree. To see what he means, this course will attempt to understand Girard’s theory of “mimetic rivalry,” “triangulation” and scapegoating violence, by reading how he interprets Shakespeare’s major plays. From “A Midsummer Nights Dream,” through “Julius Caesar” and “A Winter’s Tale”, we will use these plays to see the otherwise hidden connection between envy, sin, Christ’s crucifixion, and his Resurrection. This course's seminar will feature Senior Fellows Patrick Downey and Tiffany Schubert.