"Now a Protestant confronting a Catholic ghost is exactly Shakespeare's way of grappling with what was not simply a general social problem but one lived out in his own life"

This quote by Stephen Greenblatt is referring to the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare. In the play, a Protestant challenges a Catholic ghost, which is symbolic of the spiritual dispute between Protestants and Catholics during Shakespeare's life time. This dispute was not only a general social issue, but one that was experienced by Shakespeare himself. The play is a reflection of the spiritual stress that existed in the society of the time, and the playwright's own individual experience with them. By having a Protestant character face a Catholic ghost, Shakespeare is exploring the intricacies of the religious divide and the battles that feature it. The quote is a tip of how Shakespeare used his art to face the problems of his time, and how his work still resonates with us today.