This is a survey course designed to provide a general overview of a broad subject. Instead of delving deeply into a single play, we will explore excerpts that spotlight villains from ten different plays: Othello, Hamlet, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, King Lear, The Merchant of Venice, Much Ado About Nothing, and the chillingly dark Titus Andronicus. Each week, we will focus on one villain from one play, engaging with these characters and examining some of the most significant works of art in English literature. By the end of the course, students will create a final project of their own design, reflecting their learning.

General Trigger Warning: The fictional characters in these plays engage in behaviors that may be upsetting or triggering for some, including violence, suicide, and actions that could be considered offensive by today’s standards. We will not shy away from these topics in class, but it is important that all participants approach these discussions with respect and sensitivity, recognizing that others may find them challenging.