That Shakespeare Life

Paracelsus , the physician everyone thought was crazy


Listen Later

In the late 16th to early 17th century, a medical movement saw a meteoric rise in popularity known as Paracelsianism. Based on the writings of a physician who had died in 1541, the movement developed quite a cult following, with many claiming Paracelsus was able to work miracles of healing. Debate over the legitimacy of Paracelsus’ work became so heated that some Europeans were executed just for owning on of his books. Shakespeare takes aim at this cultural divide in his play, Alls Well That Ends Well, when in Act II Scene 3, Lafeu and Parolles have a conversation about miracles, and arguments, with Lafeu saying “They say miracles are past; and we have our philosophical persons, to make modern and familiar, things supernatural and causeless.” Parolles calls this perspective the “the rarest argument of wonder that hath shot out in our latter times.” with Lafeu responding it is of “Both Galen and Paracelsus.” This scene is Shakespeare’s only use of the word Paracelsus, while Galen gets used elsewhere repeatedly, even alongside Hippocrates in Merry Wives of Windsor. As a reflection of the culture of his day, Shakespeare’s plays suggest that while Galen was the established foundation of medicine for this period, Paracelsus made a significant mark on the medical landscape. Here today to introduce us to Paracelsus, the medical movement launched by his followers, and what we should know about why Parolles would call this “The rarest argument of wonder” is our guest and author of “Renaissance Medicine“, Vivian Nutton.  

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

That Shakespeare LifeBy Cassidy Cash

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

54 ratings


More shows like That Shakespeare Life

View all
In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,451 Listeners

History Extra podcast by Immediate Media

History Extra podcast

3,217 Listeners

Renaissance English History Podcast: A Show About the Tudors by Heather Teysko

Renaissance English History Podcast: A Show About the Tudors

535 Listeners

Dan Snow's History Hit by History Hit

Dan Snow's History Hit

4,789 Listeners

Historic Royal Palaces Podcast by Historic Royal Palaces

Historic Royal Palaces Podcast

446 Listeners

Folger Shakespeare Library: Shakespeare Unlimited by Folger Shakespeare Library

Folger Shakespeare Library: Shakespeare Unlimited

815 Listeners

Tudors Dynasty & Beyond by RedTop Media / Rebecca Larson

Tudors Dynasty & Beyond

719 Listeners

Talking Tudors by Natalie Grueninger

Talking Tudors

729 Listeners

British History: Royals, Rebels, and Romantics by Carol Ann Lloyd

British History: Royals, Rebels, and Romantics

171 Listeners

The Ancients by History Hit

The Ancients

3,198 Listeners

Gone Medieval by History Hit

Gone Medieval

1,830 Listeners

Not Just the Tudors by History Hit

Not Just the Tudors

2,034 Listeners

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society by History Hit

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

1,312 Listeners

Empire by Goalhanger

Empire

2,343 Listeners

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal by History Hit

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

1,033 Listeners