Front cover image for Shakespeare's tragedies and modern critical theory

Shakespeare's tragedies and modern critical theory

"This book makes a distinctive contribution to the current debate between traditional humanist approaches to Shakespeare and the newer modes of analysis informed by Marxism, poststructuralism, and feminism. The study addresses a broad audience, including readers who are interested in Shakespeare but unfamiliar with critical theory. To enable such readers to gain a purchase on the theoretical debate, the author provides an introduction to the main critical positions now represented in Shakespeare studies. The underlying assumptions of humanist criticism are articulated, and the challenge posed by critical theory is explored." "Individual chapters deal with cultural materialism, new historicism, poststructuralism, and feminist criticism. The theoretical basis of each critical mode is examined and some representative critiques analyzed. Most importantly, in each chapter the various interpretations are tested against Shakespeare's texts, and the strengths and weaknesses of the different readings are assessed."--Jacket
Print Book, English, ©1997
Fairleigh Dickinson University Press ; Associated University Presses, Madison, NJ, London, ©1997
Tragedy
238 pages ; 24 cm
9780838637111, 0838637116
36029648
Humanist criticism and the challenge of theory
Marxist criticism : cultural materialism, and the history of the subject
New historicism
Poststructuralism
Feminist criticism
Humanism redefined