Shakespeare as political thinker / edited by John E. Alvis and Thomas G. West.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Alvis, John.

West, Thomas G., 1945-

Horace Howard Furness Memorial Fund.

Horace Howard Furness Memorial Library (University of Pennsylvania)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616--Political and social views--Congresses.

Shakespeare, William.

Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616.

Politics and literature--England--History--16th century--Congresses.

Politics and literature.

Political plays, English--History and criticism--Congresses.

Political plays, English.

History.

Political and social views.

England.

Genre:

Conference papers and proceedings.

Physical Description:

xix, 416 pages ; 24 cm

Edition:

Second edition, revised and expanded.

Place of Publication:

Wilmington, Del. : ISI Books, 2000.

Summary:

The authors of this unique collection of essays proceed from a common conviction: Shakespeare's poetry conveys a wisdom about things political commensurate with the beauty of his poetry and drama. The writers assess the Bard's political prudence by addressing such topics in his corpus as: the nature and limits of political life; the origins of Shakespeare's understanding of politics in Christianity, Machiavelli, and the ancients; perfect and imperfect statesmanship; England, Rome, and the best polity; the link between individual character and political regime; and the relationship between poetry, politics, religion, and philosophy.

The essayists analyze Richard II, 1 and 2, Henry IV, Henry V, Measure for Measure, The Tempest, Timon of Athens, Troilus and Cressida, The Merchant of Venice, and the major tragedies, as well as the sonnets. Contributors include such luminaries as Allan Bloom and Harry Jaffa, who judge Shakespeare to be a poetic exponent of the great tradition of classical political philosophy stemming from Socrates -- a tradition whose cogency and whose relevance was displayed by Leo Strauss and others. This predominant grain is brought out by the inclusion of some essays -- notably those of Louise Cowan and Robert B. Heilman -- that cut across it.

Taken together, these writers demonstrate that good literature, particularly from masters like Shakespeare, can contain good political thinking. An example of interdisciplinary writing at its finest, Shakespeare as Political Thinker is an impressive treatment of the significance of politics for Shakespeare's characters and for the poet as thinker.

Contents:

Introductory : Shakespearean poetry and politics / John E. Alvis

The unity of tragedy, comedy, and history : an interpretation of the Shakespearean universe / Harry V. Jaffa

Richard II / Allan Bloom

God will save the king : Shakespeare's Richard II / Louise Cowan

Shakespeare's Henry IV : a new prince in a new principality / Dain A. Trafton

Spectacle supplanting ceremony : Shakespeare's Henry Monmouth / John E. Alvis

The two truths of Troilus and Cressida / Thomas G. West

Troilus and Cressida : poetry or philosophy? / Christopher Flannery

Nature and the city : Timon of Athens / Leo Paul S. de Alvarez

Chastity as a political principle : an interpretation of Shakespeare's Measure for Measure / Harry V. Jaffa

Prospero's republic : the politics of Shakespeare's The Tempest / Paul A. Cantor

The golden casket : an interpretation of The Merchant of Venice / Barabra Tovey

Shakespeare's Hamlet and Machiavelli : how not to kill a despot / John E. Alvis

Macbeth and the gospelling of Scotland / Paul A. Cantor

Shakespearean wisdom? / Michael Platt

Shakespearean comedy and tragedy : implicit political analogies / Robert B. Heilman

Transcendence and equivocation : some political, theological, and philosophical themes in Shakespeare / Laurence Berns.

Notes:

First edition published in 1981 by Carolina Academic Press.

About half of the essays were presented at a conference, "Poetry and politics in Shakespeare", held at the University of Dallas in October 1978; "the rest were written especially for this volume"--P. [xi].

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Horace Howard Furness Memorial Fund.

ISBN:

1882926501 :

OCLC:

44617028