Miss Jessica Chiba

Studied English with a minor in Philosophy at Royal Holloway, University of London, where she graduated with First Class Honours, and was presented with the Martin Holloway Prize from the University, and the Edmée Manning Award from the English Department. After acquiring an MA with Distinction in Shakespeare studies at the same institution, I am continuing my work at PhD level funded by the Crosslands Scholarship, with supervision from Professor Kiernan Ryan, and advised by Professor Andrew Bowie.

As a contribution to the University's research community I joinlty organise the Shakespeare Reading Group, which was co-founded with Scott Shepherd.

My Doctoral thesis, 'Shakespeare's Ontology' is an original study into the pervasive preoccupation with ontology, or being, in Shakespeare's works. The aim is to illuminate the significance of being in Shakespeare's works by examining the plays and poetry through the notions of being available to Shakespeare in his time, as well as in terms of the philosophical theories he prefigures in the more complex ontological moments in his plays.

My thesis supplements the ideas available to Shakespeare in his time with post-Shakespearean philosophical ideas such as those of Hegel, Adorno, Nietzsche and Heidegger where contemporary theories are not sufficient to explain the concepts inherent in his works.

 My secondary research interests are in the wider field of Shakespeare and Philosophy, and in Japanese translations of Shakespeare.

BA in English with Philosophy, Royal Holloway, University of London

MA in Shakespeare, Royal Holloway, University of London