400 Years Later: Shakespeare Shows Us How to Avoid the Pitfalls of Passion and the Politics of Hate

An annual symposium in Sydney delved into Shakespeare’s immortal messaging.

A copy of William Shakespeare, The First Folio 1623 in London, England on July 7, 2006. Scott Barbour/Getty Images

When Taylor Swift named a new song after Ophelia, fans worldwide began poring over Shakespeare’s Hamlet—a reminder that while society grows angrier and more divided, the Bard’s words can still cut through and connect people.

It is this enduring resonance—even after more than 400 years—explored at the 2025 Shakespeare Symposium at Sydney’s Campion College on Sept. 6 and 7.

Swift and Ophelia

The artwork for Swift’s latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, seems to lack context—the singer appears underwater except for her face.