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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... tragedies of Shakespeare and those of the great classical Greek dramatists Aeschylus , Sophocles , and Euripides is the freedom that individual characters pos- sess . In Greek tragedy , the gods can ordain the outcome of events , and no ...
... tragedy intrude . For instance , when Lysander and Hermia find themselves stranded in the woods , the two prepare to lie down for the night . Trying to wheedle his way closer , Lysander resolves : " And then end life when I end loy ...
... TRAGEDIES Bradley , A. C. Shakespearean Tragedy . New York : St. Martin's Press , 1992. ( Origi- nally published in 1904 ) . Garner , Shirley Nelson . Shakespearean Tragedy and Gender . Bloomington : Indiana University Press , 1996 ...