The Herod influence on Shylock, Richard III, and Macbeth

In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the prince warns that robustious acting "out-herods Herod" (III. ii. 13). From this example it cannot be denied that Shakespeare was aware of the conventional medieval stage Herod, an ear-splitting buffoon who must have appeared to Shakespeare as a marvelous source. As a result, Herod evolves into a representative form in various genres of the Shakespearean canon as: Shylock, a man of malicious intent who becomes a lonely and unfulfilled figure; Richard III, whose brutal acts parallel Herod's; and Macbeth, whose moral self is lost in vain pursuit of power. The study is developed from published sources pertaining to Herod's historical record, biblical ascription, mystery plays, and plays of William Shakespeare, and results are presented in chapters on (1) Herod's historical and biblical record, (2) the medieval stage Herod, (3) Herod in The Merchant of Venice, (4) Herod in Richard III, and (5) Herod in Macbeth.