… are making news.
Shakespeare, who employed grave robbery in many of his works including Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet and Richard III, was deathly afraid of what was to be after his death, and Dr. Philip Schwyzer says that may be the only thing keeping the tomb intact.
Etched on his stone at Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-on-Avon, as a warning to gravediggers following his death in 1616:
“Good frend for Jesus sake forebeare/ To digg the dust encloased heare/ Bleste be the man that spares thes stones/And curst be he that moves my bones.”
Schwyzer, a senior lecturer at Exeter, said: “Shakespeare had an unusual obsession with burial and a fear of exhumation. The stern inscription on the slab has been at least partially responsible for the fact that there have been no successful projects to open the grave.”
The argument is put forth as part the lecturer’s new book “Archaeologies of English Renaissance Literature,” and he adds: “His epitaph marks his final, uncompromising statement on a theme that preoccupied him throughout his career as a writer for the stage.”
Anxiety about the mistreatment of corpses is found in at least 16 of Shakespeare’s 37 plays, with the concern actually more pronounced than the fear of death itself in many instances.
Another version of the story here, and the longest version of the story is done by the local paper, the Express and Echo. Read it all here. There’s even a little picture of the bro.
Little bro is doing interviews; his book will be out in the USA next month.
UPDATE: Go to Google News and type in Schwyzer. Stuff comes up by and about just three people in the English-speaking world: my brother, my sister, and me. Coolness.
I wish my Papa could see it.
dear hugo,
in that most random of googling ways i just came across your blog, and was delighted. not certain you remember me from high school–i was a year behind you–but i have fond memories of smart conversations with you and teo and chris leib and trygve. i also remember philip, and am glad to see how well he is doing too. no specific comment here, just a fan note–you are every bit as sparkling and provocative as i remembered! look forward to reading more.
eileen
Goodness, Eileen, a real proverbial blast from the past; of course I remember you!
Have you seen Chris Leib’s website? http://www.chrisleib.com/
What on earth are you up to these days?
When I went to England, my friend and I took a day trip to Stratford and went and hung out at Shakespeare’s grave. It’s so cool to see the humble resting place of the man who was quietly possibly the greatest writer ever.
We had to hang out and wait for the church to let out, though, since there was a wedding inside when we arrived.
teaching, writing, running around after a toddler (who is incidentally, named teo!). have been on the east coast for a while now–i’ve really lost touch with friends from carmel. great to see what chris is up to, too.
i’m so impressed at how much you’re able to write here, given a day job! great stuff.