Shakespeare's Tragedies and Modern Critical Theory

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Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press, 1997 - 238 pages
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.
 

Contents

Introduction
11
Humanist Criticism and the Challenge of Theory
21
Marxist Criticism Cultural Materialism and the History of the Subject
38
New Historicism
64
Poststructuralism
81
Feminist Criticism I
110
Feminist Criticism II
153
Humanism Redefined
181
Conclusion
203
Notes
209
Bibliography
225
Index
236
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