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 51
... recognize that they are being duped , and much of the tragedy of the play is the suffering that they undergo before they " see " the difference between the reality of true love and the appearance of false love . Numerous passages could ...
... recognize that in Shakespeare's eyes , the English throne under Richard's stewardship became susceptible to other political influ- ences that we would recognize as endemic to our own time . For instance , Richard II ruefully notes how ...
... recognize that Prospero's failure led to his downfall and to a dark time for Milan . As the play continues , we also recognize that the strict obedience that Prospero de- mands from the other island's inhabitants - Miranda , the 293 Power.