Hamlet, Protestantism, and the Mourning of Contingency: Not to BeBuilding on current scholarly interest in the religious dimensions of the play, this study shows how Shakespeare uses Hamlet to comment on the Calvinistic Protestantism predominant around 1600. By considering the play's inner workings against the religious ideas of its time, John Curran explores how Shakespeare portrays in this work a completely deterministic universe in the Calvinist mode, and, Curran argues, exposes the disturbing aspects of Calvinism. By rendering a Catholic Prince Hamlet caught in a Protestant world which consistently denies him his aspirations for a noble life, Shakespeare is able in this play, his most theologically engaged, to delineate the differences between the two belief systems, but also to demonstrate the consequences of replacing the old religion so completely with the new. |
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... theplay itself—thechalice does not reify theLord's Supper,but the capacity toconsecrate anact; penance does notrelieve the painsofpurgatory, butinforms the desire to purify amotive; extreme unctionresides not insalves and anointings ...
... offers for ourown culture'sfascination with theplay: namely, our constitutional unreadiness (or sheer inability) to bury its theological dead. Preface and Acknowledgements This project was bornout of frustration.The feeling.
... the play for all its messinessand intricacy putforth acoherent message and reflecteda coherent vision. Then two things ... thePlay, Dramas behind the Arras: Rewritingthe Tragedy ofHamlet,” University of Virginia Departmentof English ...
... the play's first four Acts. Since itis a position outlawed by thepowers that be in the playwright's own time, however ... theplay works progressivelyto tightenthenutshell around him, ensuring with ever more certaintythatthe one andonly ...
... theplay is finally acknowledged.But this victory isnotatall a happyone. With Hamlet Shakespearetakes the opportunity ... the play's theological indecisiveness correspondstothe confusions ofthe era'sreligious upheaval4or toarguethe play's ...
Contents
TheLoss of Contingency 2TheBe the Eucharist and the Logic of Protestantism | |
4The Theater of Merit 5 Chastity andthe Strumpet Fortune 6 The BeProtestantism and Silence | |
Index | |
Other editions - View all
Hamlet, Protestantism, and the Mourning of Contingency: Not to Be John E. Curran Jr Limited preview - 2016 |
Hamlet, Protestantism, and the Mourning of Contingency: Not to Be John E. Curran Jr Limited preview - 2016 |
Hamlet, Protestantism, and the Mourning of Contingency: Not to be John E. Curran Limited preview - 2007 |