Shakespeare's Adolescents - Age, Gender Body in Shakespearean Performance Early Modern Culture

Shakespeare's adolescents examines the varied representation of adolescent characters in Shakespeare's plays. Using early modern medical knowledge and an understanding of contemporary theatrical practices, the book unpacks complexities that surrounded the cultural and theatrical representations of 'signs' associated with an individual's physical maturation. Each chapter explores the implications of different 'signs' of puberty, in verbal cues, facial adornments, vocal traits and body sizes, to illuminate how Shakespeare presents vibrant adolescent selves and stories.By analysing female and male puberty together in its discussion of adolescence, Shakespeare's adolescents provides fresh insight into the age-based symmetry of early modern adolescent identities. The book uses the adolescent's state of transformation to illuminate how the unfixed nature of adolescence was valued in early modern culture and through Shakespeare's celebrated characters and actors.

Product details

• Authors: Victoria Sparey
• Publisher: Manchester University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 01.02.2024
• EAN: 9781526168191
• ISBN: 978-1-5261-6819-1
• No. of pages: 240
• Dimensions: 160 mm x 240 mm x 20 mm
• Subjects: Education and learning > Teaching preparation > Vocational needs; English, LITERARY CRITICISM / Drama, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Children's Studies, LITERARY CRITICISM / Modern / General, Literary studies: c 1500 to c 1800, Age groups: adolescents, Literary studies: c 1600 to c 1800, Literary studies: plays & playwrights, Shakespeare Studies & Criticism, Literary studies: plays and playwrights, Relating to Shakespeare / Shakespearean