Format:
1 Online-Ressource (x, 261 Seiten)
ISBN:
9783031401572
,
3031401573
Series Statement:
Palgrave Shakespeare studies
Content:
This book advances five original readings of Shakespeare's King Lear, influenced by Giorgio Agamben, but tempered by primary research into Jacobean literature, law, religion, and philosophy. To grasp Lears encounter between politics and identity, the play demands a wider understanding of the religious influence on political thought. As Lear himself realises, sovereignty is an extreme, glamorous example of a deeper category: sacred office. Lear also shows duty intersecting with a hierarchy of bastards, outlaws, women, waifs, and monks. This book introduces concepts like petit treason, civil death, and waivery into political theological studies, complicating Agambens models. Gonerils treason shows the sovereigns consort and children are consecrated lives too. Lears crisis of "self-knowing" stages a landmark critique of office. The promise of his poignant speech before the prison is foreclosed by Shakespeare's invention: an officer dutifully murdering Cordelia. This books conclusion, through Hannah Arendt, reconsiders Lears persistent association with the Holocaust. Dr Alexander Thom is a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow in the School of English, University of Leeds, UK. His postdoctoral research focuses on the displaced in English Renaissance drama. This book is based on his Midlands3Cities AHRC doctorate, which was awarded in 2020 by the Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham, UK
Note:
Includes index
,
1 Introduction -- 2 The Majesty of Kingship: Spectacular and Sacred Sovereign Power -- 3 The Bloody Proclamation to Escape: Edgar and Romantic Outlawry -- 4 Dividing Between Daughters -- 5 Lears Redemption -- 6 Conclusion: Lears Shadow, Office Today -- Index.
Additional Edition:
ISBN 9783031401565
Additional Edition:
Erscheint auch als Druck-Ausgabe ISBN 9783031401572
Additional Edition:
Erscheint auch als Druck-Ausgabe ISBN 3031401565
Additional Edition:
ISBN 9783031401565
Additional Edition:
Erscheint auch als Druck-Ausgabe THOM, ALEX OFFICE AND DUTY IN KING LEAR [S.l.] : PALGRAVE MACMILLAN, 2023 ISBN 3031401565
Language:
English
