Shakespeare and conservative populism

Shakespeare and conservative populism is an approach to understanding Shakespeare and his brilliant works with the perspective of conservative populism. For example, the final work of director Orson Welles was going to be a movie production of King Lear, when Welles prematurely died.

Shakespeare's audience

Shakespeare's audience was populist, without question. His plays were not intended for the elite or for churchgoers. For much of history the devoutly religious tended to view the theater with distrust and disdain.

Indeed, in 1642 -- merely a few decades after Shakespeare's death, Puritans forced the closing of his Globe Theatre at which his plays were performed.

Julius Caesar

Shakespeare portrayed Julius Caesar as a populist rather than a tyrant. In Julius Caesar (play) the Friends, Romans, Countrymen speech by Mark Antony is an example of conservative populism.