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On Shakespeare and cutaneous diseases
1Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
Abstract:
Disorders with dermatologic features are intractable and rife in Shakespeare's world. For this reason, they occupy an unusual position in culture. "The plague" and "leprosy" are popular insults and epithets-indictments of not external pathogens but of moral failure. It may be no surprise to identify, as a present-day reader, syphilis and the plague in early modern England, but what about other dermatologic conditions at the time? "The plague," "leprosy," "the pox," and "measles" are commonly used terms, although ultimately interchangeable in Shakespeare's plays. Rosacea and scurvy, however, are described by Shakespeare before they become named entities. Bardolph's skin characterizes his alcohol addiction and thievery, and Caliban's "monstrous" form mirrors his state as an untouchable in society. Shakespeare also documents the "royal touch" in Macbeth, which links the ability of a monarch to heal the skin lesions of extrapulmonary tuberculosisto political legitimacy. Shakespeare does little more than document this historic ritual around the skin, but he does catalogue the ways these acquired diseases of the skin are used in daily speech and character writing. At the end of Macbeth, the "royal touch" gives Prince Malcolm the backstory and political precedent to march on Dunsinane Hill to reclaim the Scottish throne.
Insights
Shakespeare
Area of Science:
- Medical Humanities
- Literary Analysis
- History of Medicine
Background:
- Dermatologic conditions were prevalent and significant in Shakespearean literature.
- Terms like "plague" and "leprosy" were often used metaphorically for moral failings.
- Shakespeare described conditions like rosacea and scurvy before they were formally named.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the depiction and cultural significance of dermatologic disorders in Shakespeare's works.
- To explore how skin conditions were used to characterize individuals and societal roles.
- To examine the historical context of skin diseases and their representation in Elizabethan England.
Main Methods:
- Close reading and textual analysis of Shakespeare's plays.
- Historical research into dermatologic conditions in early modern England.
- Cultural and literary interpretation of disease symbolism.
Main Results:
- Shakespeare used common terms like "pox" and "measles" interchangeably, often as insults.
- Descriptions of rosacea and scurvy predate their formal medical naming.
- Characterizations of Bardolph (alcoholism) and Caliban (untouchable) utilize skin conditions.
- The "royal touch" ritual in Macbeth connects monarchical healing of skin lesions (extrapulmonary tuberculosis) to political legitimacy.
Conclusions:
- Shakespeare's works offer a rich historical record of dermatologic conditions and their social/cultural impact.
- Skin disorders in his plays served as powerful literary devices for character development and social commentary.
- The "royal touch" ritual highlights the intersection of medicine, politics, and belief in the period.
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