Shakespeare’s Double-Dealing Comedies: Deciphering the “Problem Plays” - Hardcover

Myron Stagman

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1443816361 ISBN 13: 9781443816366

Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2009

Synopsis

Are some of Shakespeare’s romantic storybook heroines actually emoting sexually obscene (but very funny) lines? {“Sexual quibbles (puns, play-on words), covertly uttered by precious-and-pure heroines, call for an immediate revision of viewpoint.”} When Fernando (The Tempest) is described as bravely swimming for shore “in lusty stroke”, would he be disqualified for doing this in Olympic competition? Before the walls of Harfleur, when Henry V threatens to “mow like grass your fresh-fair virgins” and have “your naked infants spitted upon pikes”, is he (and by inference his creator) barbarous? Or is he doing an hilarious comic imitation of Marlowe’s Tamburlaine before the walls of Damascus? {“There exists an interesting Marlovian source for the Tamburlaine protagonist himself―Ivan the Terrible. He proposed marriage to Queen Elizabeth, who tactfully turned him down.”} Rule Number 1: If a good writer seems surprisingly inept and has been known to be a wit or humorist, suspect parody or satire. Well, esteemed readers, you decide where to place your bets. On the critics? Or on William Shakespeare?

About this title

About the Author

Dr. Myron Stagman is a Shakespearean and Classical research scholar who is keen on solving literary and historical mysteries.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1443816361
• ISBN 13: 9781443816366
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 180