Xueqin and Xakespeare - Reading the Story of the Stone Through Hamlet

This book offers a detailed consideration of the iconic five-volume novel written by Cao Xueqin, translated into English as The Story of the Stone, when read through William Shakespeare's drama Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, A Tragedy in five Acts.

List of contents

Introduction: The Story of the Stone: a 'Shakespearean' translation
1. 'Look here upon this picture'; 'Gag his mouth. Beat him to death': Patriarchal authority in Hamlet and The Story of the Stone
2. 'Such a perusal of my face'; 'The snow-white arm': Romantic love and tragic heroines in Hamlet and The Story of the Stone.
3. 'But long before you died your heart was slain' (1.5.143) The Story of the Stone and the challenge of the shrew: Wang Xi-feng as tragic heroine.
Selected Bibliography
Index

About the author

Judith Forsyth is a Shakespeare scholar with a long and enduring interest in Chinese literary culture. The language barrier inhibited serious critical enquiry until the advent of the 'Shakespearean' English translation of The Story of the Stone by David Hawkes and John Minford opened up the potential this book explores for detailed cultural exchange between the two great writers William Shakespeare and Cao Xueqin.

Summary

This book offers a detailed consideration of the iconic five-volume novel written by Cao Xueqin, translated into English as The Story of the Stone, when read through William Shakespeare’s drama Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, A Tragedy in five Acts.

Product details

• Authors: Judith Forsyth, Forsyth Judith
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 05.03.2024
• EAN: 9781032635545
• ISBN: 978-1-0-3263554-5
• No. of pages: 278
• Series: Routledge Studies in Comparative Literature
• Subjects: Fiction > Poetry, drama > Drama; Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative literary studies; China, DRAMA / Shakespeare, LITERARY CRITICISM / Asian / Chinese, LITERARY CRITICISM / Modern / General, Literary studies: c 1500 to c 1800, Literary studies: c 1600 to c 1800, Shakespeare Studies & Criticism, Classic and pre-20th century plays, Shakespeare Plays, Relating to Shakespeare / Shakespearean