In our first lecture, Dr. Andrew Doyle introduces us to the unique historical circumstances that allowed Shakespeare's genius to flourish and explores why his works have never been surpassed. We examine how the emergence of public theaters in London, the influence of university-educated playwrights, and the thirst for national pride in literature created the perfect conditions for Shakespeare's arrival in 1587. The lecture emphasizes Shakespeare's unparalleled ability to create complex, ambiguous characters that transcend the confines of genre and continue to resonate with audiences across time.

In lecture two, we delve into Shakespeare's Hamlet, exploring the play's themes of revenge, melancholy, and the protagonist's unsuitability for the role of avenger. The lecture examines how Hamlet's idealism is shattered by his mother's hasty remarriage, leading to his existential crisis and feigned madness, and how Shakespeare subverts the conventions of revenge tragedy through Hamlet's delays and philosophical musings.

In lecture three, we learn about the complexities of Shakespeare's King Lear, exploring its themes of tragedy, nihilism, and the possibility of redemption amidst relentless suffering. Dr. Doyle examines how Shakespeare subverts traditional notions of poetic justice and happy endings, instead presenting a bleak world where the worst fates befall the most virtuous characters, ultimately asking whether there can be meaning in such a godless and cruel universe.