Shakespeare on ethnic cleansing.

Ian McKellen performs "The Strangers' Case" speech from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on 4 February 2026.

@Voline

I have long believed that while Shakespeare is an excellent writer, his longevity is due entirely to the fact that he accurately represents the diverse humanity of his characters.

@Voline

With the caveat that social norms of the day certainly snuck in there...
He goes further than most in that time at humanizing, and so very many of his characters are independently motivated and struggling against the expected type.