804 Shakespeare and Loss (with Sarah Beckwith) | My Last Book with Caroline Lea

Shakespeare’s late tragedies—including *Hamlet*, *King Lear*, and *Macbeth*—function as profound explorations of human relationships under the threat of losing fundamental concepts. Duke University professor Sarah Beckwith argues that these plays examine the erosion of essential binding principles, such as the grammar of grieving, the ethics of giving, the responsibility of action, and the nature of love. By analyzing these works, the discussion reveals how characters become exiled from community and intelligibility when these vital concepts are distorted or abandoned. Beckwith emphasizes that Shakespeare’s precision in portraying these ruptures provides a framework for understanding contemporary societal challenges, such as the failure to properly mourn or the dehumanizing reduction of individuals to mere functions. This inquiry highlights the enduring necessity of literature in articulating the complex, fragile bonds that define human existence and the importance of maintaining these concepts within society.