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. |
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... fool " was applied to jesters of the medieval court who entertained royal personages . Because fools had no official status , they were entitled to utter all sorts of humorous , even rude remarks which , if emanating from any other ...
... fools is the " Fool " in King Lear . He appears after Cordelia has been expelled by Lear and departed for France with her future husband . The Fool also exits permanently before Cordelia returns . Therefore they are never onstage ...
... Fool , whose wit stands on the edge of madness , all sheltering and supporting one another . Two brief scenes later , they attempt to conduct a mock trial of his daughters , and at the end , the Fool quietly takes his leave : " And I'll ...