The Plays of Shakespeare: A Thematic GuideTouching viewers and readers with his presentation of social, moral, and political issues, Shakespeare holds ageless and unequaled appeal primarily because of the universal themes at the heart of his dramatic works. Shakespeare scholar Victor Cahn takes a unique approach to exploring the plays by identifying and explicating the themes that recur throughout the canon. Written in lively language, each of the 35 essays explores a core theme or topic and discusses its implications in several key plays in which it figures prominently. This user-friendly guide not only allows readers to better understand the significance of concepts such as power, politics, marriage or money; the organization by theme also helps users to compare and contrast these important topics across relevant plays. Cahn draws vivid connections between related works of Shakespeare, but just as importantly, enlightens readers as to the pertinence of these themes in contemporary life. |
From inside the book
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... Nonetheless , we recognize its accuracy . Lear himself has made the ter- rible misjudgment of turning on Cordelia and bestowing her share of his kingdom on her two unprincipled sisters , Goneril and Regan . Gloucester , too , has been ...
... Nonetheless , after Feste has left the stage , she says of him : This fellow is wise enough to play the fool , And to do that well craves a mind of wit . He must observe their mood on whom he jests , The quality of persons and the time ...
... nonetheless sacrifice their lives . Seconds later , a nameless father pulls in one of his victims , whom he discovers to be his own son : O , pity , God , this miserable age ! What strategems ! how fell ! how butcherly ! Erroneous ...