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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... true to his own behavior , he must fight somewhere , and thus he joins the army of his longtime enemy , Aufidius and the Volsces . Menenius first blames Sicinius and Brutus for Coriolanus's defection : You have made fair hands , You and ...
... true rule You stand against anointed majesty . ( IV , iii , 38–40 ) How ironic that a king who rebelled in spite of the religious sanctioning of the throne should now stand by that authority , even though he himself is a usurper who ...
... true feelings to surface . We enjoy watching the deception , but even more intriguing is the reaction of the love - stricken pair when they realize that they have been duped . After Benedick muses : " They swore that you were almost ...