Shakespeare and the body politic / edited by Bernard J. Dobski and Dustin Gish.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Dobski, Bernard J., 1972-

Gish, Dustin A., 1969-

Horace Howard Furness Memorial Library (University of Pennsylvania)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616--Language.

Shakespeare, William.

Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616.

Metaphor in literature.

Physical Description:

xiv, 272 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Md. : Lexington Books, [2013]

Summary:

Metaphors animate Shakespeare's corpus and one of the most prominent is the image of the body. Attention to the political dimensions of this metaphor in Shakespeare and the Body Politic permits readers to examine the sentiments of romantic love and family life, the enjoyment of peace, prosperity, and justice, and the spirited pursuit of honor and glory, as these inevitably emerge within the social, moral, and religious limits of particular political communities. The tensions between the desires and pursuits of individuals and the health of the community forge the sinews of every body politic, and Shakespeare illuminates these tensions within a wide array of political forms-from the ancient city-states of Greece and Rome to the Christian cities and kingdoms of early modern Europe. By attending to the political context and the role of political actors in his works, the chapters herein exhibit Shakespeare's political thought. Readers thus discover in Shakespeare's plays and poetry an education in politics, even as they find themselves written into his lines. Shakespeare's body of work is indeed politic, and the whole it forms incorporates us all. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Shakespeare and the Body Politic / Bernard J. Dobski Dobski, Bernard J., Dustin Gish Gish, Dustin 1

I The Heart

2 "The Very Heart of Loss": Love and Politics in Antony and Cleopatra / Joseph Alulis Alulis, Joseph 31

3 Julius Caesar: The Problem of Classical Republicanism / Timothy Burns Burns, Timothy 49

4 Who Is Shakespeare's Julius Caesar? / Nasser Behnegar Behnegar, Nasser 79

5 Love, Honor, and Community in Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet / Pamela K. Jensen Jensen, Pamela K. 95

II The Limbs

6 "At War 'Twixt Will and Will Not": Government, Marriage, and Grace in Measure for Measure / Peter C. Meilaender Meilaender, Peter C. 119

7 Trojan Horse or Troilus's Whore?: Pandering Statecraft and Political Stagecraft in Troilus and Cressida / Nalin Ranasinghe Ranasinghe, Nalin 139

8 Shakespeare's The Rape of Lucrece: Honor and Republicanism / Robert M. Schaefer Schaefer, Robert M. 151

9 Hotspur and Falstaff v. the Politicians: Shakespeare's View of Honor / Timothy J. Spiekerman Spiekerman, Timothy J. 167

III The Head

10 Shakespeare, Timon of Athens, and Philosophy: A Preliminary Inquiry / George Anastaplo Anastaplo, George 189

11 Taming the Shrew: Shakespeare, Machiavelli, and Political Philosophy / Dustin Gish Gish, Dustin 197

12 The Education of Edgar in Shakespeare's King Lear / Laurence D. Nee Nee, Laurence D. 221

13 Shakespeare and the Comedy and Tragedy of Liberalism / David K. Nichols Nichols, David K. 241.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0739170953

9780739170953

OCLC:

825047381