The Demise of Woke: Shakespeare, Universality, and the Absurdity of Decontextualization

The "Decolonization" of Shakespeare: A Case Study in Decadent Wokeness

Is "woke" truly dead? The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust's plans to "decolonize" the Bard might suggest so, not because it's a successful endeavor, but because it represents the death throes of an ideology pushed to its most absurd extreme. Before any trend truly dies, it enters a decadent phase, a self-parody so extreme that even its former proponents cringe. This is precisely what we're witnessing in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The Trust, tasked with preserving and promoting Shakespeare's legacy, has embraced the tenets of critical theory, embarking on a mission to dissect the "continued impact of colonialism" within Shakespeare's works. This stems from the alarming notion that celebrating Shakespeare somehow enables "White supremacy."

The Contradictions of Critical Theory

The accusations leveled against Shakespeare are a dizzying array of contradictions. Homophobic? What about the queer theory embracing the Bard's fluidity of gender representation on stage? Anti-feminist? What about the powerful female characters like Lady Macbeth who defy patriarchal expectations? Racist? What about Othello, a tragic tale of interracial love and the insidious nature of prejudice?

Even the colonial critique falls flat. Critics often point to The Tempest, yet Prospero and the shipwrecked Europeans don't establish a colony. They ultimately leave the island, restoring agency to its magical inhabitants. This seems to be precisely what anti-colonialists advocate.

These strained interpretations reveal the intellectual bankruptcy of applying modern political lenses to a playwright who lived centuries ago.

Shakespeare's Humanism: A Timeless Appeal

Shakespeare's true power lies in his humanism. He breathes life into characters from all walks of life, exploring their motivations, flaws, and triumphs. Even Shylock, often cited as an anti-Semitic caricature, delivers a powerful speech on the shared humanity of Jews and Christians:

"I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions?..." (Merchant of Venice, Act 3, Scene 1)

Shakespeare's ability to embody diverse perspectives is precisely what makes his work so enduring. It's not about what Shakespeare himself "says," but about the complex tapestry of human experience he weaves through his characters.

Universality vs. Identity Politics: The Importance of Shared Humanity

The crux of the issue, as identified by Dr. Helen Hopkins, is Shakespeare's perceived "universality." This very quality, his ability to resonate across cultures and time, is deemed problematic, seen as reinforcing "White European supremacy."

Kenan Malik, a leftist British author of Indian descent, offers a powerful rebuttal. He highlights how Black intellectuals like W.E.B. DuBois, Ralph Ellison, and James Baldwin embraced Shakespeare as a formative influence. Malik argues that universalism, the belief in shared human values, is essential for social justice, not its enemy. He eloquently points out the irony of decrying universalism as "Eurocentric" while simultaneously employing identity-based critiques that mirror colonial attitudes towards race and knowledge.

"...It was universalism – the belief that equality, democracy and self-determination belonged to all rather than the property of a privileged few – that fuelled the great radical movements that have shaped the modern world..." - Kenan Malik

Malik's insightful critique, published in The Guardian, underscores the inherent flaws in judging ideas based solely on the identity of the speaker. It highlights the danger of essentializing cultures and reinforces the importance of universal human values in the pursuit of a more just world.

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s embrace of these flawed arguments signals not the demise of Shakespeare, but the self-implosion of an ideology taken to its illogical extreme.