Shakespeare and the Invention of the Supervillain

Ancient mythology had its share of gods, monsters, and witches, and allegorical Christian plays had their allegorical bad guys. But the modern supervillain has one single pure origin: Shakespeare’s Iago, an ordinary person whose multiple motives conceal his essential drive for, and unrestrained theatrical enjoyment of chaos and evil for the sake of evil.

Join us for a look at where he comes from (Chaucer’s Pardoner), what makes him so terrifying, and where he goes — Milton’s Satan, Cormac McCarthy’s Judge, Hannibal Lecter, the Joker, and the Amazing Amy Dunne.











When: Thu., Nov. 3, 2016 at 7:00 pm
Where: The Strand
828 Broadway
212-473-1452
Price: $20, includes complimentary beer and wine
Buy tickets/get more info now
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Ancient mythology had its share of gods, monsters, and witches, and allegorical Christian plays had their allegorical bad guys. But the modern supervillain has one single pure origin: Shakespeare’s Iago, an ordinary person whose multiple motives conceal his essential drive for, and unrestrained theatrical enjoyment of chaos and evil for the sake of evil.

Join us for a look at where he comes from (Chaucer’s Pardoner), what makes him so terrifying, and where he goes — Milton’s Satan, Cormac McCarthy’s Judge, Hannibal Lecter, the Joker, and the Amazing Amy Dunne.

Buy tickets/get more info now