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King Lear and the gods / William R. Elton.
- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- Elton, William R., 1921-2000, author.
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Christianity and literature--England--History--17th century.
- Christianity and literature.
- Christian drama, English--History and criticism.
- Christian drama, English.
- Religion in literature.
- Gods in literature.
- Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. King Lear.
- Shakespeare, William.
- Lear, King of England (Legendary character)--In literature.
- Lear.
- Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616--Religion.
- Physical Description:
- 1 online resource (386 p.)
- Edition:
- 1st ed.
- Place of Publication:
- Lexington, Kentucky : The University Press of Kentucky, 1988.
- Language Note:
- English
- Summary:
- <P>Many critics hold that Shakespeare's <I>King Lear</I> is primarily a drama of meaningful suffering and redemption within a just universe ruled by providential higher powers. William Elton's <I>King Lear and the Gods</I> challenges the validity of this widespread optimistic view. Testing the prevailing view against the play's acknowledged sources, and analyzing the functions of the double plot, the characters, and the play's implicit ironies, Elton concludes that this standard interpretation constitutes a serious misreading of the tragedy.</P>
- Contents:
- Cover; Title; Copyright; Contents; Acknowledgments; Note on the Text; Part I; I. The Problem; II. Renaissance Concepts of Providence; III. Sidney's Arcadia: Four Attitudes to Providence; IV. From Leir to Lear; Part II; V. Prisca Theologia: Cordelia and Edgar; VI. Pagan Atheism: Goneril and Regan, Edmund; VII. Pagan Superstition: Gloucester; VIII. Deus Absconditus: Lear; Part III; IX. Double Plot; X. Minor Characters: Kent, Cornwall, Albany, the Fool; XI. Irony as Structure; XII. Conclusion; King Lear Studies: 1967-1987; Index; A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V
- WX; Y; Z
- Notes:
- Bibliography: p. ix-x.
- "King Lear studies, 1967-1987": p. 339-345.
- Includes index.
- Description based on print version record.
- ISBN:
- 0-8131-6005-7
- 0-8131-6130-4
- OCLC:
- 900344929
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