| Description |
xii, 242 pages ; 24 cm |
| Contents |
I. Private Life: Shakespeare and Selfhood : -- 1. The Divided Self: Comedy of Errors; As You Like It -- 2. Naming of Self: Troilus and Cressida; Romeo and Juliet; Taming of the Shrew -- 3. The Self and Language: Measure for Measure; Troilus and Cressida -- 4. The National Self: Othello; King Lear -- 5. The Self at Play: Love's Labour's Lost; Taming of the Shrew -- II. Marital Life: Shakespeare and Romance : -- 1. Love and Hazard: Merchant of Venice -- 2. Love and Friendship: Two Gentlemen of Verona; Winter's Tale; Two Noble Kinsmen -- 3. Love and Madness: Midsummer Night's Dream; Cymbeline; All's Well that Ends Well; Measure for Measure; Troilus and Cressida -- 4. Marriage and Identity: Comedy of Errors; All's Well that Ends Well; Taming of the Shrew -- 5. Love and Abuse: Taming of the Shrew; Merry Wives of Windsor; Othello; Troilus and Cressida -- III. Political Life: Shakespeare and Government : -- 1. Acting Politics: 3 Henry VI; Richard III; 1 Henry IV; 2 Henry IV; Henry V; Coriolanus; Julius Caesar -- 2. Surviving Politics: Richard II; Macbeth -- 3. The Personal versus the Political: Richard II; 1 and 2 Henry IV; Henry V -- IV. Public Life: Shakespeare and Social Structures : -- 1. Money: Macbeth; Merchant of Venice; Romeo and Juliet; Merry Wives of Windsor; Timon of Athens -- 2. Women and Politics: Antony and Cleopatra; King John; Measure for Measure -- 3. Language: Titus Andronicus; Much Ado About Nothing; All's Well that Ends Well -- V. Real Life: Shakespeare and Suffering : -- 1. Mingled Yarns: Twelfth Night; King Lear; Much Ado About Nothing -- 2. Mourning: Hamlet; Twelfth Night -- 3. The Family: King Lear; Macbeth -- 4. Anger and Revenge: Titus Andronicus -- 5. Forgiveness: Pericles; Winter's Tale; Cymbeline; Tempest; Henry VIII; Two Noble Kinsmen |
| Summary |
This beginner's guide to Shakespeare reminds us that the main reason people still watch and read Shakespeare's plays is because they identify with the characters and situations depicted in them. Drawing on all of Shakespeare's plays, Laurie Maguire shows how they illustrate some of life's most familiar stories - love and obsession, parents and children, sex and politics, suffering and revenge. The book groups the stories into five broad categories, moving from those concerned with personal identity to those dealing with romance and marriage, family life, politics, and public life. This thematic arrangement makes the plays accessible to the widest possible audience, and helps readers grasp the connection between the issues addressed by the plays and those of our own time. |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages [223]-234) and index |
| Subject |
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Criticism and interpretation -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.
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Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Examinations -- Study guides.
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| Genre/Form |
Handbooks and manuals.
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Study guides.
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| LC no. |
2002038481 |
| ISBN |
0631229841 alkaline paper |
|
063122985X paperback alkaline paper |
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