Honigmann, Hammerschmidt−Hummel, and Moses' Shoes (Part 9: Religious Bias in Shakespeare Scholarship)
In 2003, in the journal, Connotations , E. A. J. Honigmann reviewed a 2001 book by Hildegard Hammerschmidt−Hummel, Die verborgene Existenz des William Shakespeare . She had claimed to offer conclusive evidence of Shakespeare’s Catholicism. Exodus 3:1-5 tells of Moses’ encounter with the burning bush. God tells him, “put thy shooes off thy feete: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground” (1599 Geneva). [1] [Moses and burning bush, detail from illumination on parchment, Bible de Souvigny, circa 1180-1200. Bibliothèque municipale de Moulins (Allier). Public domain, via Wikipedia . In its entry on the burning bush, Wikipedia also notes, "The burning bush has been a popular symbol among Reformed churches since it was first adopted by the Huguenots (French Calvinists) in 1583 during its 12th National Synod."] When faced with transcendent mystery, one should tread carefully, humbly. [Moses and the burning bush. Icon from 12th or 13th century. Saint Catherine...