Synopses & Reviews
Shakespeare, like many of his contemporaries, was concerned with the question of the succession and the legitimacy of the monarch. From the early plays through the histories to Hamlet, Shakespeare's work is haunted by the problem of political legitimacy. Shakespeare and Reniassance Politics examines his works as political events and interventions, and explores the literature of the Renaissance and its relation to fundamental political issues.
Synopsis
These books provide new insight to all lovers of Shakespeare, by putting Shakespeare back into context, by highlighting the culture in which he lived and worked, and examining the different ways in which his plays have been interpreted. Their user-friendly approach makes leading contemporary scholarship accessible and illuminating, while providing the same quality and thoroughness of the Arden plays.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Shakespeare and the Varieties of Early Modern Political Culture True and False Sovereigns in the English History Plays The Power and the Rights of the Crown Republicanism and Constitutionalism Alternative Forms of Government The Reality of Jacobean Politics Afterword Appendix 1: The Plantagenet Dynasty Appendix 2: The Tudor Dynasty Notes Bibliography Index