The myth of Rome in Shakespeare and his contemporaries / Warren Chernaik.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Chernaik, Warren L., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616--Criticism and interpretation.

Shakespeare, William.

Jonson, Ben, 1573?-1637--Criticism and interpretation.

Jonson, Ben.

Massinger, Philip, 1583-1640--Criticism and interpretation.

Massinger, Philip.

Chapman, George, 1559?-1634--Criticism and interpretation.

Chapman, George.

Historical drama, English--History and criticism.

Historical drama, English.

Rome--In literature.

Rome.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (298 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

1st ed.

Other Title:

The Myth of Rome in Shakespeare & his Contemporaries

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2011.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

When Cleopatra expresses a desire to die 'after the high Roman fashion', acting in accordance with 'what's brave, what's noble', Shakespeare is suggesting that there are certain values that are characteristically Roman. The use of the terms 'Rome' and 'Roman' in Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra or Jonson's Sejanus often carry the implication that most people fail to live up to this ideal of conduct, that very few Romans are worthy of the name. In this book Chernaik demonstrates how, in these plays, Roman values are held up to critical scrutiny. The plays of Shakespeare, Jonson, Massinger and Chapman often present a much darker image of Rome, as exemplifying barbarism rather than civility. Through a comparative analysis of the Roman plays of Shakespeare and his contemporaries, and including detailed discussion of the classical historians Livy, Tacitus and Plutarch, this study examines the uses of Roman history - 'the myth of Rome' - in Shakespeare's age.

Contents:

Roman historians and the myth of Rome

The wronged Lucretia and the early Republic

Self-inflicted wounds

'Like a colossus' : Julius Caesar

Ben Jonson's Rome

O'erflowing the measure : Antony and Cleopatra

The city and the battlefield: Coriolanus

Tyranny and empire

Ancient Britons and Romans

Postscript : Shakespeare and the repbulican tradition.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-139-06320-0

1-107-21473-4

1-283-11301-5

9786613113016

1-139-07547-0

1-139-08229-9

1-139-08002-4

1-139-07773-2

0-511-92184-5

1-139-06971-3

OCLC:

727649215