The Al-Mutanabbi Pioneers Forum held a literary session during which Abbas Aziz Ali was invited to present a lecture titled: “Shakespeare and the Great Human Questions: Mercy, Revenge, Betrayal, Time, and Existence,” while the session was chaired by the writer Shakir Kitab.
The lecture addressed the works of the global playwright William Shakespeare, describing them as a rich human laboratory for posing existential questions. The speaker focused on several dualities that have occupied human thought, including mercy and revenge, betrayal and loyalty, time and eternity, demonstrating Shakespeare's ability to transform the theater into a mirror reflecting the contradictions and ongoing struggles of the human soul.
Ali reviewed examples from some of Shakespeare's most famous plays, analyzing their characters and situations that embody these questions, highlighting the capacity of Shakespearean texts to transcend their historical and cultural contexts, remaining relevant across different times and places, which has contributed to the continued reading of his works and their presentation on theater stages around the world.
The session saw interventions and questions from the audience that enriched the discussion and expanded its themes, while participants emphasized the importance of openness to global literature as a bridge for cultural communication and a space for addressing major human questions and discussing issues that transcend geographical and cultural boundaries.
The session concluded by reaffirming the importance of continuing literary and intellectual activities that contribute to enhancing cultural dialogue and encouraging critical readings of global literature.