The humor of it: bodies, fluids, and the history of medicine in Shakespeare
- Collection:
- NLM Publications and Productions
- Alternate Title(s):
- Bodies, fluids, and the history of medicine in Shakespeare
- Contributor(s):
- Paster, Gail Kern. National Library of Medicine (U.S.)
- Publication:
- [Bethesda, Md.] : National Library of Medicine, 2009
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Moving image
- Subject(s):
- Medicine in Literature Body Fluids Drama History of Medicine History, 16th Century Human Body Personality
- Genre(s):
- Lecture
- Abstract:
- Michael North introduces Dr. Paster and the discussion. Dr. Paster cites her interest in the cultural history of the body. In today's lecture she focuses on the the four humors as they are used in the plays by Shakespeare. She begins by explaining the humors--blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile--as developed by Galen. These humors are sent to the body in the form of hot, cold, moist and dry. The humors provide hints of the human personality. In Shakespeare, the body is defined as fragile and porous, filled with fluids. She uses Corporal Nim who is found in "Henry V" and "The Merry Wives of Windsor" as an example of use of humors. Another example is found in Act IV, Scene I, in the "Merchant of Venice."
- Copyright:
- The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information)
- Extent:
- 076 min.
- Color:
- Color
- Sound:
- Sound
- Provenance:
- Received: Jan. 16, 2009; transfer; from Stephen Greenberg.
- Technique:
- Live action
- NLM Unique ID:
- 101496178 (See catalog record)
- OCLC no.:
- 319068828
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101496178