1650 Park CircleColumbia, SC 29201 Phone (803) 252-7734

Pricing: Lourie Center Members: $20/course
Non-members: $30/course

Sign up here: Registration

Explore Shakespeare’s timeless exploration of love, marriage, and jealousy through three iconic plays spanning his career: Much Ado About Nothing (1598), Othello (1602/4), and The Winter’s Tale (1610). Each of these works uses a similar plot—male jealousy and its devastating impact on marriage—but unfolds in a unique genre: comedy, tragedy, and romance (or tragicomedy). Together, they offer a fascinating look at Shakespeare’s dramatic evolution, from laughter to heartbreak to redemption.

Over four weeks, we’ll delve into Shakespeare’s language, characters, and key themes, considering what makes these plays enduring favorites for audiences around the globe.

Week 2: Much Ado About Nothing

Examine the sources of this beloved comedy, its double plot, and why Beatrice and Benedick outshine Claudio and Hero. Discover how near-tragedy becomes a turning point for love’s most reluctant pair.

About the Instructor:
Lawrence Rhu, professor emeritus of English at the University of South Carolina, is a Shakespeare scholar and an expert on the English and Italian Renaissance. He is also a poet, with his debut collection Pre-owned Odyssey & Rented Rooms recently published by Main Street Rag.