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
Results 1-3 of 58
... night , come , loving , black - brow'd night , Give me my Romeo , and , when I shall die , Take him and cut him out in little stars , And he will make the face of heaven so fine That all the world will be in love with night And pay no ...
... Night . Madness pervades this play , as virtually every character either feels a touch of delusion or condemns someone else as deluded . For instance , the Countess Olivia is told by her gentlewoman , Maria , that Olivia's uncle , the ...
... night has been unruly . Where we lay , Our chimneys were blown down , and ( as they say ) Lamentings heard i ' th ' air ; strange screams of death , And prophesying , with accents terrible , Of dire combustion and confus'd events New ...