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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... throne , the blessings of God are on him , and he is in fact divinely or- dained . One instance among many occurs when the King inquires whether he may rightly exercise his claim to the French throne by going to war . First , Henry ...
... throne was an action against God , but it was an action demanded by the mo- ment . King Henry V , regarded by many as the most heroic ruler in En- glish history , would never have reached the throne had the childless . Richard's plan ...
... throne must be willing to deal politically with all sorts of forces around him , including rebellious nobles and a restless , sometimes unruly , populace . When Bullingbrook threatens to take the throne , he does so with po- litical ...