ABSTRACT
Did Shakespeare read Plato? The evidence suggests that Shakespeare not only read Plato, but also consulted him as though he possessed wisdom of the highest sort. With a focus on surveying recent literature in the field, I show that Shakespeare’s genius is at least in part due to his uncanny ability to transform Platonic wisdom into fully realized dramatic action. Previous Straussian attempts at interpreting Plato’s influence have overlooked the extent to which Shakespeare accentuates the ancient quarrel between philosophy and poetry, rather than simply resolving it.
