Reading William Shakespeare’s “Sir Thomas More” is a great way to learn the virtues of self-government, Director of Academic Programs for Hillsdale in D.C. Matthew Mehan told students on Monday. 

“It is, to my mind, the most concentrated example of the sort of mental ecology of a statesman that Shakespeare ever produced,” Mehan said. “It is the only one where a good leader is portrayed.”

Mehan said he chose to talk about “Sir Thomas More” because it exemplifies the connection between Shakespeare and self-government. The soliloquy is More’s internal struggle of pride, power, prestige and burden upon being appointed to a high leadership position, Mehan said. 

“It’s an example of the kind of speech that a good leader would give to himself,” Mehan said. “It’s the kind of counsel that if you want to lead successfully, you need to get in the habit of giving yourself.” 

In his lecture, Mehan explained an illustration of a crest showing two snakes winding up a staff and protecting a dove from More’s “Utopia,” which Shakespeare references in the play. 

“You actually need dangerous things in order to make healthy things,” Mehan said. “We have to be simple, clean, good Christians, but we also have to be wise in the ways of this world so that we don’t get devoured like sheep by the wolves.” 

By doing this, a person can better self-govern, Mehan said. 

Sophomore Dottie Roland said she appreciated learning about the connection between literature and politics.

“It was a good taste of what students might get to experience, especially touching on taking on these contemplative ideas that we get from our liberal arts education and then applying them into our real life,” Roland said.

Freshman Ty Ruddy agreed. 

“Shakespeare was an absolute genius,” Ruddy said. “I think there’s a lot to be learned.”