Ep 23: What Astrological Sign are Iconic Shakespeare Characters with Guest Gabbi Miller

Would you classify yourself as a straight up astrology nerd or someone who barely knows your sign and that’s where you’d like to leave it? What about when it comes to Shakespeare?

In the spirit of having fun, in this episode I talk to repeat guest Gabbi Miller about which astrological signs different Shakespeare characters would be. I come supplying the knowledge about Shakespeare, she comes with the details about popular astrology.

I came up with this idea mostly because I thought it would make for an interesting conversation, but I was curious to know how much a role astrology would have played in the lives of Shakespeare’s contemporaries. Turns out, astrology was thriving in early modern England and you can find Shakespeare grappling with that fact in the text of his own plays.

Of course he did.

Join us on a silly little romp through some of Shakespeare’s most notable characters and even a quick glance at the man himself.

Further Reading

"Causes in Nature: Popular Astrology in King Lear" by Phebe Jenson. Published in Shakespeare Quarterly (Winter 2018)

Further Listening

Episode 13: Saltburn (2023) and Dead Poet's Society (1989) (to hear more Gabbi)

Episode 17: What Your Favorite Shakespeare Play Says About You (for more silliness)

Credit where credit is due

Podcast art by ⁠Halie Branson⁠

Music recording by ⁠josdvg⁠