Experiencing 'Macbeth': Reflections After the Globe Theatre Screening

Our professor Dr. Dilip Barad, the head of the Department of English at MKBU, made the screening of Macbeth accessible and this blog is to analyse the different aspects of the play and the performance based on his worksheet. The worksheet- Screening of 'Macbeth'

Introduction 

Drama is meant to be watched and performed. Reading alone won't fully capture its essence. We have been fortunate enough to watch the performance of the play. The Globe Theatre's performance was in line with the original play, which made it more realistic and faithful to the story.

Introduction to the Play and the Performance 

Macbeth is one of William Shakespeare's most powerful tragedies, written around 1606. It tells the story of a brave Scottish general, Macbeth, whose encounter with three witches sparks a dangerous ambition to become king. As he follows a dark and violent path to power, Macbeth loses his sense of morality, and the play explores themes of ambition, guilt, fate, and the corrupting influence of power. The presence of supernatural elements, especially the witches, adds a mysterious and unsettling tone throughout the play.

The version we watched was performed by the Globe Theatre, London, and streamed online for our class. I couldn't grasp the whole performance as it's language was performed in Shakespeare's original language. The actors delivered intense and emotional performances that made the language and meaning of the play easier to follow. The simple yet atmospheric stage design, dramatic lighting, and strong expressions helped bring out the psychological tension in the story. Although we watched it vertually, the energy of a live theatre performance came through clearly.

Symbolic Significance of the Opening Scenes in Act I & IV Involving the Witches

Watching the witches in the Globe Theatre performance gave me a strong sense of unease right from the beginning. Their strange appearance, eerie voices, and the dark setting created a mood of mystery and danger. In Act I, their line "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" stood out as a key idea, showing how things in the play are not what they seem. They seemed to enjoy causing confusion, and it was clear they had power over Macbeth's thoughts. In Act IV, their second appearance with the ghostly visions felt even more intense. The performance made it clear that the witches were not just magical figures but symbols of chaos and temptation, pulling Macbeth towards over ambition against his kind nature.

How Macbeth's Ambition Leads to His Moral Deterioration

Watching the play, I noticed how Macbeth changes from a brave and respected soldier into someone completely controlled by his ambition and fear. At first, he feels unsure about killing King Duncan and worries about the consequences. But once he starts thinking about becoming king, his ambition grows stronger and soon takes over his actions. The performance showed how his inner conflict turns into cold determination as the play progresses.

Examples:

• After hearing the witches' prophecy, Macbeth struggles but finally decides to kill Duncan to become king.

• After murdering Duncan, he says, "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?" showing his guilt and horror.

• He orders the murder of Banquo and Banquo's son, Fleance, because he fears their threat to his throne.

• Macbeth sends murderers to kill Macduff's wife and children, showing how far he has fallen into cruelty.

• Toward the end, Macbeth reacts coldly to Lady Macbeth's death, saying, "She should have died hereafter," showing how numb he has become.

The Motif of 'Blood' as a Symbol of Guilt and Violence

While watching the play, I saw that the idea of blood came up a lot. It was not only in the words but also shown by the actors in their actions. In Macbeth, blood is the symbol of both the violence that happens and the guilt the characters feel after. For example, after Macbeth kills King Duncan, he looks at his bloody hands and says, "This is a sorry sight." This shows how guilty he feels. Later, Lady Macbeth tries to wash her hands but says, "Out, damned spot!" even though there is no real blood. This means she cannot forget what they have done. The word "blood" is mentioned 40 times to remind us of the crimes and the guilt. The way the actors showed this made me feel how the characters are stuck with their guilt and violence.

The Impact of the Supernatural Elements on the Plot and Characters

The supernatural plays a very important role in Macbeth and strongly affects the characters, especially Macbeth himself. The witches are the first to appear, and their strange way of speaking, along with the dark setting, created a feeling of fear and mystery in the performance. When Macbeth hears their prophecy that he will become king, something changes in him. The idea stays in his mind and slowly begins to control his actions. Even though the witches do not tell him to kill anyone, their words push him to think about doing whatever it takes to make the prophecy come true.

Later, in Act IV, the witches show Macbeth strange visions. These visions make him feel overconfident. He believes he is safe and that no one can defeat him. Because of this, he becomes careless and more violent. I noticed in the performance that after each meeting with the witches, Macbeth looks more disturbed and driven. He stops thinking clearly and trusts the witches completely. This shows that the supernatural does not force him, but it works by feeding his ambition and confusing him. The witches and their magic add a dark and powerful energy to the story and lead Macbeth deeper into his downfall.

Comparison Between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth

In the performance, the contrast between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth was very clear. At the beginning, Lady Macbeth seemed stronger and more determined. She encouraged Macbeth to kill King Duncan and questioned his manhood when he hesitated. Macbeth, on the other hand, appeared nervous and full of doubt. But after the murder, their roles began to change. Macbeth became more confident, violent, and independent, while Lady Macbeth started to lose control. She was no longer part of his decisions and slowly became overwhelmed by guilt. By the end of the play, Macbeth was cold and distant, and Lady Macbeth was broken and full of regret. The performance showed this shift through the actors' expressions and behaviour, helping me understand how both characters played a part in the tragedy.

Aspect	Macbeth	Lady Macbeth
Beginning of the Play	Hesitant, loyal, full of doubt	Bold, ambitious, pushes Macbeth
Attitude Toward Murder	Feels guilty, scared of consequences	Sees it as necessary for power
Change Over Time	Becomes confident and ruthless	Becomes weak and filled with guilt
Relationship Shift	Starts making decisions alone	Becomes excluded and isolated
End of the Play	Emotionless, lost in ambition	Broken, mentally disturbed, dies tragically

Conclusion 

The Globe Theatre's performance of Macbeth, that we watched recently, helped me see the play in a deeper and more meaningful way. Watching the characters on stage made the story feel more real, especially the struggles with ambition, guilt, and fate. The use of sound, lighting, and facial expressions brought new layers to the scenes that I didn’t fully understand when reading the text. This screening gave me a fresh perspective on Shakespeare’s work and helped me connect with the emotional and dramatic power of the play. 

References 

Barad, Dilip. Worksheet - Screening Shakespeare's Macbeth. 29 Aug. 2023, ResearchGate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373482185_Worksheet__Screening_Shakespeare's_Macbeth. Accessed 30 July 2025.

Macbeth. Directed by Eve Best, The Shakespeare Globe Trust, 2021. Globe Player, https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/. Accessed 30-31 July 2025.

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Fingerprint Classics, 2016.

Faustus Fears, Singh Stood Steadfast

Faustus Fears, Singh Stood Steadfast 

This blog, as given by Dr. Dilip Barad, head of the Department of English at MKBU, reexamines the final monologue of Dr. Faustus in light of Bhagat Singh's firm conviction as expressed in his partly autobiographical essay Why I Am an Atheist.

Introduction 

To practice more than heavenly power permits.

                   

                    (The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus)

Surpassing all the religious boundaries, Dr. Faustus practices more than heavenly power allows a human being. Awaiting his eternal damnation, he bewails and abhors the choices he made. The final monologue of Dr. Faustus reveals his fear of perpetual death, and he looks for some divine power to intervene and save his life. Bhagar Singh's ideology and beliefs, on the other hand, are as steady as the stars. He lived a life of revolution against all the oppression, suffering, and struggle for independence. He wrote the essay Why I am an Atheist in 1930, a year before his martyrdom for India’s freedom for independence.

This blog explores how Singh's thoughts on freedom, belief, and courage might rewrite the way we understand Faustus' end.

Christopher Marlowe and His Tragic Hero

Christopher Marlowe (1564–1593) was a major English playwright and poet of the Elizabethan era, educated at Cambridge and considered a leading precursor to Shakespeare. His brief but influential career advanced English drama through the innovative use of blank verse and a focus on ambitious, psychologically complex protagonists. Marlowe’s most significant works include Tamburlaine the Great, Doctor Faustus, The Jew of Malta, Edward II, The Massacre at Paris, and Dido, Queen of Carthage, each engaging with themes such as power, religious conflict, and individual desire. He also wrote acclaimed poetry, notably The Passionate Shepherd to His Love. Marlowe’s bold language, thematic depth, and dramatic innovation have secured his enduring reputation in early modern English literature.

Doctor Faustus is one of Marlowe’s most famous play. It tells the story of a philomath named Faustus who wants more than ordinary knowledge. He makes a deal with the devil, giving up his soul in exchange for magical powers for 24 years. At first, Faustus enjoys his powers, but as time runs out, he feels fear and regret. In the end, he begs for mercy, crying, “O, I’ll leap up to my God! Who pulls me down?” This shows his deep fear and hopelessness. The play talks about sin, time, and the limits of human power. The play mixes elements of medieval morality with Renaissance humanism, showing the tension between the desire for knowledge and the fear of eternal punishment. The final monologue, spoken as the hour of death arrives, is filled with panic, regret, and pleas to God that go unanswered.

Bhagat Singh: Reason Over Religion 

Bhagat Singh (1907-1931) was not just a freedom fighter; he was also one of India's most intellectually driven revolutionaries. Born in British-ruled Punjab, Singh became a symbol of fearless resistance against colonial oppression. His activism began early, inspired by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and later shaped by Marxist and socialist ideas. While many viewed the freedom struggle through a religious or nationalist lens, Bhagat Singh emphasized political awareness, economic justice, and intellectual freedom. 

Bhagat Singh wrote the essay Why I Am an Atheist in October 1930 during his imprisonment in Lahore Central Jail, answering his friends who believe that his atheism is led by vanity. Singh sets the tone of the entire essay in the very beginning. He refuses the role of vanity in shaping one's views as to the existence of God. Taking no more time, he refuses the charges that it's vanity behind his atheism and denies the very existence of God, saying, "I deny the very existence of that Almighty Supreme Being… Here I want to clear one thing, that it is not vanity that has actuated me to adopt the doctrines of atheism. I am neither a rival nor an incarnation nor the Supreme Being Himself. One point is decided, that it is not vanity that has led me to this mode of thinking.”

If not vanity and pride, what is the reason behind his atheistic views? Singh takes us back to his early days and describes how, despite having a religious background, he disbelieves in God. He recounts his religious upbringing. Singh notes he grew up as a devout Sikh, regularly visiting temples and reading scriptures. He was a strong believer in God until his belief was challenged by rationalist and scientific literature. He describes how reading about rationalism and science led him to question religious dogma, eventually eroding his belief entirely. He shares how, for two or three years, he extensively read about philosophy and atheism. Through this, his questioning transformed into conviction: religion, to him, was deeply flawed. He uses this as a starting point to further explain his reasoning.

Furthermore, Singh systematically critiques religious belief, examining common arguments for the existence of God and their shortcomings. He discusses how belief in God often arises from fear or ignorance and links this to societal fatalism and inaction: "Unable to solve the riddle, men attribute their troubles to the working of God." He questions the moral claims of religion, arguing that morality is independent of belief in God, and condemns fatalism as an obstacle to human progress and social change.

In the final section of his essay, Bhagat Singh reflects on how atheism shapes and strengthens his commitment to revolutionary ideals. As he awaits execution, unlike Faustus, Singh remains steadfast in his convictions, urging his friends not to pray for him or seek divine intervention, but to uphold reason and continue the struggle for justice and human dignity.

English audiobook of Why I am an Atheist 

Rewriting the Monologue Through Bhagat Singh's Lens

Doctor Faustus, a true Marlovian and Renaissance protagonist, has an unquenchable desire for knowledge, just as Barabas has for wealth and Tamburlaine for power. He sold his soul to Mephistophilis for twenty-four years. This act of Dr. Faustus ultimately results in his death. Realizing that his end is near, he repents and begs for redemption from God, whose advice he had refused earlier. The final monologue of Dr. Faustus is a masterpiece by Christopher Marlowe, in which he depicts Faustus' emotional appeal to God as his doom comes nearer. It strikingly depicted how the fear of death makes one believe in the existence of God.

In sharp contrast, Bhagat Singh's Why I am an Atheist rejects all such supernatural limitations on human thought and agency. For Singh, the idea of God exists only because of human weakness, and he explicitly encourages people to cast off belief in divine restrictions, face life's challenges head-on, and take full responsibility for shaping their own destiny. 

“Ah, Faustus,

Now hast thou but one bare hour to live,

And then thou must be damned perpetually!

Stand still, you ever-moving spheres of heaven,

That time may cease, and midnight never come.”

“Yes, Faustus,

This last lone hour is wholly yours to face,

And so you shall endure it consciously!

Turn on, you ceaseless wheels and stars above,

Let time prevail, and let midnight arrive."

“O soul, be changed into little water-drops,

And fall into the ocean, ne’er be found.”

"O soul, become a flame that will not falter,

And rise into the night, claimed and profound."

"I’ll burn my books!—Ah, Mephistopheles!”

“I’ll keep my books!—Reason, my conqueror"

Another point to consider is that Faustus' behavior in his final hours differs significantly from Bhagat Singh's mindset in his last days. To get a clearer sense of Bhagat Singh's thought process during that time, here's the last paragraph from the essay.

"Let us see how I carry on. One friend asked me to pray. When informed of my atheism, he said, "During your last days you will begin to believe". I said, No, dear Sir, it shall not be. I will think that to be an act of degradation and demoralization on my part. For selfish motives I am not going to pray. Readers and friends, "Is this vanity"? If it is, I stand for it."

Conclusion 

Marlowe had not, in his writings, been able to push the boundaries set by his time, as Bhagat Singh would manage to do in the upcoming centuries with his firm conviction and tenacity. Not kneeling to heavenly powers, as religious individuals believe, even in the face of death, sets Bhagat Singh apart from Marlowe's Faustus. Bhagat Singh serves as a striking epitome of self-reliance and freedom of thought. Faustus fails to stand by his decision, whether right or wrong, but Singh holds his head high.

References 

Singh, Bhagat. Why I Am An Atheist and Other Works. Kindle ed., Fingerprint Publishing, 2019.

Marlowe, Christopher. Doctor Faustus. Edited by David Scott Kastan, W. W. Norton & Company, 2005.

Aristotle's 'Poetics'

Hamartia in Three Protagonists: Brutus, Lear, and Loman as Aristotelian Tragic Heroes 

Our professor, Dr. Dilip Barad, the head of the Department of English at MKBU, has assigned us the task of studying Aristotle's Poetics to familiarize ourselves with the fundamentals of classical Greek criticism, which forms the foundation of Western literary criticism.

Introduction 

This blog explores the idea of hamartia, or tragic flaw, in three major tragedies from different literary periods- Julius Caesar (1599) and King Lear (1605) from Elizabethan age, and Death of a Salesman (1949) from the Modern Age. 

Tragedy is one of the oldest and most powerful forms of storytelling. According to the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, tragedy is a serious form of drama that presents the downfall of the protagonist due to a personal flaw or an error in judgment, which he called hamartia. In this blog, we will explore the tragic protagonists in three well-known plays: Julius Caesar and King Lear by William Shakespeare (1564-1616), and Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller (1915-2005). By examining the tragic protagonists in these plays, we aim to understand how their flaws lead to their downfall, following the concept introduced by Aristotle in his Poetics.

Aristotle's Critique Against Plato's Charges

Aristotle: Plato's Charges on Poetry& Poets

 

Aristotle: Reply to Plato's Charges

Although Aristotle was a student of Plato, their views on poetry and art were quite different. Plato, primarily a philosopher, rejected poetry on both moral and philosophical grounds. In his ideal state he even proposed banishing poets because he believed poetry could mislead people and disturb rational thinking. He argued that poetry is merely an imitation of reality, and since it imitates the physical world, which is itself a copy of the world of ideal forms, poetry is twice removed from reality. For Plato, this imitation appeals to emotions rather than reason, which he considered harmful to individuals and society. 

Aristotle responded to Plato by defending poetry in his work Poetics. He argued that poetry is not mere imitation of reality but a meaningful and creative way of representing human actions. Unlike Plato, who saw imitation as false, Aristotle believed that imitation helps people understand life and human nature better. He said that poetry is more philosophical than history because it shows not just what has happened, but what could happen according to probability and necessity. For Aristotle, tragedy is the highest form of poetry because it deals with serious themes and emotions. It shows the downfall of a noble character due to a personal flaw or error, which leads the audience to feel pity and fear. This emotional experience brings about catharsis, or purgation, helping people process their own feelings.

Aristotle's Poetics: Foundation of Tragedy

Aristotle (384-322 BCE) was a distinguished philosopher, polymath, naturalist, and literary critic, renowned for his intellectual versatility. In his famous treatise Poetics, the most valuable document in the history of Western criticism, Aristotle provides the earliest surviving theory of drama, especially tragedy, and his ideas have shaped literary criticism for centuries.

In the sixth chapter of Book Vl of his Poetics Aristotle defines tragedy as "Tragedy, then, is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action, not of narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions.”

Aristotle's Definition of Tragedy

He said that a good tragedy should have six parts: plot, character, thought, diction, melody, and spectacle. The plot, according to Aristotle, is the soul of tragedy, especially when it shows a person falling from a high position due to a tragic flaw, or hamartia. 

The term hamartia is usually rendered into English as ‘tragic flaw’. It derives its meaning etymologically from archery. It means, ‘to miss the mark’, ‘to err or fail’. The view has been modified to relate the term to an intellectual rather than a moral error. It is often mistranslated as "fatal flaw," but more accurately understood as an "error of judgment." It is the specific mistake, miscalculation, or ignorance on the part of the tragic hero that directly leads to their downfall. Now, we will concisely find the flaw in the tragic protagonists of Shakespeare and Miller's tragedies.

Tragic Protagonists

Julius Caesar 

According to Aristotle, a tragic protagonist is someone who is essentially noble but possesses a hamartia, or tragic flaw, which brings about their downfall. In Julius Caesar, Marcus Brutus fits this definition closely. He is a man of high moral standing, deeply committed to the Roman Republic and its ideals. However, his hamartia lies in his rigid sense of honour, idealism, and poor judgment. Brutus naively believes that the assassination of Caesar will save Rome, ignoring the personal motives of the conspirators around him. His inability to separate political reality from personal morality leads him to betray a friend and plunge the state into chaos. Thus, Brutus's downfall is not a result of villainy but of a fundamental error in judgment, a classic example of Aristotelian hamartia.

King Lear 

King Lear is yet another good example of Aristotle’s idea of hamartia, which means a serious mistake made by a noble person that leads to their downfall. At the start of the play, Lear is a powerful king, but he lets his pride and love for praise influence his decisions. His main mistake is that he cannot see people for who they really are. He believes the fake words of love from his older daughters, Goneril and Regan, and rejects the honest love of his youngest daughter, Cordelia. When he gives power to the wrong daughters and sends Cordelia away, he unknowingly brings tragedy upon himself and his kingdom. Lear’s poor judgment, quick temper, and refusal to face the truth cause him great pain and lead to disaster. Shakespeare shows how one wrong decision by a great man can lead to a tragic end.

Death of a Salesman 

While Aristotle's concept of hamartia was developed in the context of classical tragedy, it also applies to modern drama, as seen in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. Willy Loman is not a king or a nobleman, but an ordinary man whose deep personal flaws lead to his tragic end. His hamartia is his strong belief in the American Dream and his refusal to face the truth about his life. Willy cannot accept that he is not successful or well-known. Instead, he lives in a world of fantasy, imagining himself as someone important and admired. His mistake of choosing appearance over reality and dreams over truth creates problems in his family and leads to confusion about his own identity. Willy's tragedy does not come from outside forces, but from the flaws within himself, making his story a modern reflection of Aristotelian hamartia.

Comparative Table: Tragic Protagonists and Hamartia

Conclusion 

No discussion in the field of literary criticism is entirely possible without mentioning Plato and Aristotle. These two ancient Greek philosophers laid the foundation for Western literary theory. Plato, in his philosophical dialogues, expressed skepticism about poetry and its moral influence. Aristotle, his student, responded by developing a more systematic and appreciative approach to literature in his seminal work Poetics, thus setting the tone and criteria for much of later and contemporary literary criticism.

References

Aristotle. Poetics. Translated by S. H. Butcher, The Poetry Foundation,

Aristotle. Poetics. Translated by S. H. Butcher, ResearchGate, 2023, www.researchgate.net/publication/373258361_Aristotle's_Poetics.

Socrates

 Life and Philosophy of Socrates

Our professor, Dr. D.P. Barad, the head of the Department of English at MKBU, has assigned this task for a better understanding of Socrates.

Socrates: An introduction to His Life and Philosophy 

Socrates was an ancient Greek philosopher who lived in Athens from around 470 BCE to 399 BCE. He is considered one of the most important thinkers in Western philosophy. Socrates did not write any books himself; instead, his ideas and conversations were recorded by his students, especially Plato and Xenophon.

Socrates became famous for asking deep questions about life, ethics, and knowledge, often by having conversations with people in public places. He believed that true wisdom begins with recognizing how little you know, and he encouraged others to examine their own beliefs and actions. This way of questioning is now called the "Socratic method".

Socrates' Life in Athens

Between 431—404 B.C.E. Athens fought one of its bloodiest and most protracted conflicts with neighboring Sparta, the war that we now know as the Peloponnesian War. Socrates was not only a philosopher but also a brave soldier. He fought also in this war and his courage and discipline in war were well known and admired by his followers, especially Plato. This shows that Socrates was deeply loyal to his city, even while questioning many of its traditions.

Athens lost the Peloponnesian War and it went through a period of political unrest. A harsh regime known as the Thirty Tyrants took over, and one of its leaders, Critias, had been a student of Socrates. Although Socrates did not support the tyrants, his connection to them and his constant questioning of democracy made people uneasy. When democracy returned, Athenians were wary of anyone who seemed to challenge it.

Although many admired Socrates for his honesty and insight, he was also a controversial figure in Athens. He was sometimes mocked in plays, like Aristophanes’ comedy The Clouds. At the age of 70, Socrates was put on trial and accused of not respecting the gods of the city and of corrupting the youth. The trial was held before a jury of about 500 citizens. Socrates defended himself with characteristic honesty, refusing to beg for mercy or compromise his principles.

He was found guilty by a narrow margin and sentenced to death by drinking a cup of poisonous hemlock. Socrates accepted his fate calmly, believing it was more important to remain true to his values than to escape punishment

The story of Socrates’ trial and his defense speech, as told by Plato in the Apology, has become a key text in philosophy. Socrates’ life and death continue to inspire people to think deeply and to value the search for truth.

Socrates and the Birth of Western Philosophy

Socrates (c. 470-399 BCE) is widely regarded as the founder of Western philosophy. Unlike earlier thinkers who explored the natural world, Socrates shifted the focus of philosophy to questions about human life, ethics, and society. His approach encouraged people to examine their beliefs, values, and actions, laying the groundwork for critical thinking and rational inquiry that still shapes modern philosophy today.

Socrates’ philosophy was centered on the idea that the unexamined life is not worth living. He believed that the most important knowledge was self-knowledge and that the path to wisdom and virtue lay in questioning one’s own beliefs and assumptions. Socrates’ method of inquiry, known as the Socratic method or elenchus, involved engaging in dialogue with others and asking probing questions to expose the inconsistencies and limitations of their beliefs. Through this process, Socrates sought to help his interlocutors recognize their own ignorance and to encourage them to pursue truth and goodness.

One of the key concepts in Socratic philosophy is the idea of epistemic humility, or the recognition of the limits of one’s own knowledge. Socrates famously declared that he knew nothing, and he encouraged his followers to adopt a similar attitude of intellectual modesty. He believed that true wisdom consisted not in the accumulation of facts or the mastery of technical skills, but in the acknowledgment of one’s own ignorance and the willingness to question and examine one’s beliefs.

Socrates’ philosophy had a profound influence on his students, particularly Plato and Xenophon, who wrote extensively about their mentor’s life and teachings. Plato’s dialogues, in which Socrates is often the central figure, are among the most important sources of our knowledge of Socratic philosophy.

The Socratic Method

One of Socrates’ most enduring contributions is the Socratic Method—a way of seeking truth through dialogue and questioning. Rather than lecturing, Socrates engaged others in conversations, asking probing questions that challenged assumptions and revealed contradictions. This method, also called elenchus, guides participants to clarify their ideas and discover deeper truths for themselves.

The Socratic Method is still used in education, law, and many fields to foster critical thinking and deeper understanding.

Socrates' Legacy 

Socrates’ legacy does not confine only to the discipline of philosophy but it extends to the field of depth psychology, particularly in the work of Carl Jung. Jung was deeply inspired by Socrates’ inner voice or daimonion, which he saw as a manifestation of the unconscious or the Self. Jung’s concept of the “Philemon,” an inner figure of wisdom and guidance, bears a striking resemblance to Socrates’ daimonion. Like Socrates, Jung believed that the path to self-knowledge and individuation involved engaging in dialogue with one’s inner voices and confronting the shadow aspects of the psyche.

Conclusion 

In essence, Socrates showed the way philosophy should be treated. He revolutionized philosophy in a true sense, as he was the first to ask fundamental questions, which are the essence of philosophy. His teachings transcend Athens, and it seems that they are more practical than ever in this modern world where people tend to avoid asking questions.

References 

Blackstock, Joel. "Socrates Influence on Philosophy and Depth Psychology." Taproot Therapy Collective, 7 Aug. 2024,

https://gettherapybirmingham.com/socrates-influence-on-philosophy-and-depth-psychology/?utm_source=perplexity

Cloke, Harry. "The Socratic Method: Your Complete Guide." Growth Engineering, 13 Feb. 2024, 

https://www.growthengineering.co.uk/socratic-method/

The Lallantop. "सुकरात का दर्शन: मरते हुए एक मुर्गे की बात a? | Socrates | Tarikh Ep.744." YouTube, 27 June 2024,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo04J4l2fpk

Nothing New. "The Trial of Socrates (Plato's Apology)." YouTube, 18 Jan. 2023,

youtu.be/5-gyTgFjuIg

Post-Truth

Understanding the Post-Truth World

To enhance critical thinking and media literacy among students and to strengthen their minds against misinformation repeatedly found in digital media, Dr. Dilip Barad from the Department of English at MKBU has assigned this blog task to the students. Below are the links to his blogs.

Post-truth: The Word of the Year 2016

Beware of Histofluencers

Introduction 

There has never been a more challenging period than today, when it is extremely difficult to differentiate the information on the basis of fact, primarily due to the rise of digital media. Our attention span has shortened, and the capacity to think critically has diminished. This phenomenon has been encapsulated by the term “post-truth”—a word that has come to define the spirit of our times. The Oxford Dictionary recognized "post-truth" as the word of the year for 2016.

The Origin and Background of the Term

The word post-truth is made up of two parts. The prefix post- comes from Latin and means "after" or "following." The word truth comes from Old English treowp, which is related to ideas like faith, loyalty, and honesty. So, in a literal sense, post-truth means "after truth." It suggests a time or condition in which truth is no longer central or important in shaping people's beliefs or actions.

“After much discussion, debate, and research, the Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year 2016 is post-truth – an adjective defined as ‘relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief’,” the Oxford Dictionaries website announced.  

 

Context of 2016 Word of the Year

The word has a much earlier origin though it became widely known after 2016. “After much discussion, debate, and research, the Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year 2016 is post-truth – an adjective defined as ‘relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief’,” the Oxford Dictionaries website announced

Explaining the choice, it said the concept has been in existence for the past decade, but “Oxford Dictionaries has seen a spike in frequency this year in the context of the EU referendum in the UK and the presidential election in the US. It has also become associated with a particular noun, in the phrase "post-truth politics”.

The website traces the first use of the term to a 1992 essay by the late Serbian-American playwright Steve Tesich in The Nation magazine. “Reflecting on the Iran-Contra scandal and the Persian Gulf War, Tesich lamented that ‘we, as a free people, have freely decided that we want to live in some post-truth world."

How Post-Truth Affects Opinion Today

In a post-truth world, what feels right or what fits with what you already believe often matters more than the actual facts.

Emotions over Fact

Instead of carefully checking facts, people might be swayed by stories or headlines that make them feel strong emotions (like anger, fear, excitement, or pride). If something makes them feel good or bad about an idea, they might believe it, even if it's not true.

Confirmation Bias

We all tend to look for and believe information that confirms what we already think. In a post-truth world, it's easier to find information (even false information) that supports our existing views, making us less likely to question them.

The Role of Digital Platforms (WhatsApp, Social Media, Influencers)

Over the years, WhatsApp has gained vast influence all over the world. Nowadays, it has become easy to manipulate public opinion using WhatsApp. From political parties to mega companies, they try to divert the public's opinion from facts to emotions. Emotionally appealing content feeds the public's intellect and forces them to choose a comfortable lie over the truth. The term 'WhatsApp University' became popular when people started taking these data and information as truth.
With the growing use of social media all over the world, it has become a source of news consumption for many people. Social media influencers play a significant role in shaping public opinion. They also harm society by taking a stance in the domain and discipline without having any knowledge of that course of action.

Examples of Post-Truth 

Personally, there are many epistles that could be called post-truth. Donald Trump, the president of the U.S., is the prime example of post-truth, as he won the 2025 election entirely based on emotions and false claims. Another major example is the Ind-Pak conflict, where both sides' media outlets bombarded the public with false news, extraordinary claims, and propaganda.

One educated person congratulated Rishi Sunak for being elected as the Prime Minister of England three months ago, which is a prime example of how easily people can be manipulated ang misinformed. Just to be the first to know, this fear of missing out has shrunk the critical ability to cross-check the information we receive from social media. The habit of fact-checking and critically evaluating the information is at its lowest. 

Need for Critical Thinking and Media Literacy 

Understanding post-truth is crucial. When facts matter less than feelings, it makes it hard to make smart choices about health, politics, and daily life. To fight this, we need critical thinking - learning to question information, check who shared it, and spot hidden agendas. We also need media literacy - understanding how online content is made and shared. These skills are our best tools to navigate the huge amount of information online, spot fakes, and become responsible digital citizens who help spread truth, not lies.

Conclusion

The Covid-19 pandemic saw the surge of post-truth and misinformation lead many people to severe consequences. Every influencer and media outlet claimed to have the remedy for the Covid-19, but these were just false claims and misleading information.

References 

Oxford University Press. Word of the Year 2016. Oxford Languages – Word of the Year, 2016, https://languages.oup.com/word-of-the-year /2016/. Accessed 13 July 2025.

Barad, Dilip. “Post‑truth: The Word of the Year 2016.” Dilip Barad | Teacher Blog, 14 Jan. 2017, https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2017/01/post-truth -word-of-year-2016.html. Accessed 13 July 2025.

Barad, Dilip. “Beware of Histofluencers.” Dilip Barad | Teacher Blog, 17 Nov. 2023, https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2023/11/beware-of -histofluencers.html. Accessed 13 July 2025.