Podcast Summary
Shakespeare and Mathematics: Shakespeare's work contains numerous indirect mathematical references, such as love triangles and accounting terminology, suggesting a deeper connection to mathematics than initially thought.
Shakespeare, the most influential writer in the English language, has deeper connections to mathematics than one might initially think. Rob Eastaway, a maths communicator and author, discovered this unexpected association while preparing a session for a maths teachers' conference in Stratford upon Avon, Shakespeare's birthplace. Although mathematics and Shakespeare may seem unrelated, Shakespeare's work contains numerous indirect mathematical references. For instance, the maths of love triangles and music, which was a mathematical subject during Shakespeare's time, are present. Moreover, Shakespeare may have had an accounting background, as suggested by the frequent use of accounting terminology in his plays and sonnets. For example, "against that time, when I shall see the frown on my defects," from Sonnet 116, contains the accounting words "sum," "called to that audit," and "advised respect." This intriguing connection between Shakespeare and mathematics adds another layer to our appreciation of the Bard's genius.
Shakespeare's use of accounting terminology: Shakespeare used accounting terminology metaphorically to emphasize the complexity and universality of human experiences, often using big numbers to highlight grandeur and scale.
Shakespeare's use of accounting terminology in his plays, despite its inaccuracies and anachronisms, was a deliberate metaphor for the complexity and magnitude of the human experiences he portrayed. In Comedy of Errors, Pericles, and Othello, Shakespeare's careless handling of foreign currencies was likely an intentional way to emphasize the universality of his themes, as his audience would have been unfamiliar with the specific currencies and their values. However, in Timon of Athens, Shakespeare's choice to use talents as the unit of money and his inclusion of an impossible loan request of 5500 talents, equivalent to around 100 million dollars today, may have been a deliberate exaggeration to highlight the absurdity of Timon's actions and the inevitability of his downfall. Shakespeare's use of big numbers throughout his works, whether tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands, served to emphasize the grandeur and scale of the human condition, and his willingness to bend historical and financial facts for artistic purposes is a testament to his creative vision.
Shakespeare's use of large numbers: Shakespeare used large numbers poetically for dramatic effect, with 1,000 being a significant number, and used simple arithmetic to add depth to his plays
Shakespeare used large numbers for dramatic effect in his works, even though the concept of large numbers would have been different in his time. For instance, 1,000 was considered a big number, and in "Romeo and Juliet," Shakespeare used the number 200,000 times, which is equivalent to 2 million, to describe the joy Romeo would feel upon his return. Another example is in "The Taming of the Shrew," where Bianca calculates the number of hours her lover was away as "eight score and eight," which is poetically equivalent to 168 hours. Shakespeare's use of arithmetic, though simple, adds depth and intrigue to his plays.
Alternative Shakespeare: The argument that a greater writer than Shakespeare might have existed due to population growth and literacy rates is intriguing but faces challenges in determining who qualifies as an equivalent and measuring their greatness.
The argument that the greatest writer who ever lived might not have been Shakespeare, as suggested by Sam Bankman through statistical analysis, is an intriguing perspective but comes with significant challenges. Bankman's argument is based on the vast population growth and literacy rates since Shakespeare's time, implying that statistically, there must have been many other potential "Shakespeares" out there. However, determining who qualifies as a Shakespeare equivalent is subjective and challenging. Taylor Swift or Lin Manuel Miranda might have equivalent talents, but measuring their greatness in comparison to Shakespeare is not straightforward. Ultimately, the argument raises thought-provoking questions about the nature of talent, the subjectivity of artistic evaluation, and the limitations of statistical analysis in understanding human creativity.
Numbers in storytelling: Numbers have the power to bring meaning and context to our understanding of the world, often found in unexpected places, encourage sharing interesting numbers
Numbers play a significant role in shaping our perception of the world around us. They can be used to tell compelling stories and can often be found in unexpected places, from the news to literature. Rob Eastway, author of "Much Ado About Numbers," emphasized this point during his discussion on the BBC. He encouraged listeners to keep an eye out for interesting numbers they come across and to consider the stories they might tell. If you've seen a number in the news or in a book that you find intriguing, don't hesitate to share it with the BBC. Numbers may seem like mere data, but they have the power to bring meaning and context to our understanding of the world.