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Clear mirrors and scripture in English, revolutionary innovations of the Elizabethan age, inspired Shakespeare's drive towards a new purpose for drama.
List of contents
Introduction: Shakespeare's Mirror Metaphors Prologue: "The Mirror of All Martial Men," (Living up to Stereotypes) Mirrors in the Cultural and Historical Context of Sixteenth Century England
Henry VI, Part One
1. "Amorous Looking-Glass:" The Self-Infatuation of the Regal Perfomer in the Early Histories Richard III and Henry VI, Parts Two and Three
Richard II
2. "Dissembling Glass of Mine:" Female Self-Evaluation within the Patriarchal Genre of Courtship Comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona
The Comedy of Errors
The Taming of the Shrew
Love's Labour's Lost
A Midsummer Night's Dream
The Merchant of Venice
As You Like It
3. "The Mirror of All Christian Kings:" Increasing Tension between Classical Action and Christian Passivity Henry IV, Part Two
Henry V
Julius Caesar
4. "The Mirror up to Nature:" Hamlet's Metaphysical Redirection of the Purpose of Playing Hamlet Metatheatre Subverting the Classical Tradition
Shakespeare's Rivalry with Ben Jonson
Hamlet's Pauline Education at Wittenberg
The Gravedigger Scene as Christian Exegesis
Venetian Mirrors and the Representation of the Self in the Context of the Revolutionary Social and Scientific Environment of the Sixteenth Century
5. "Glassy Essence:" The Fraudulent Hypocrisy of Impious Authority Troilus and Cressida
Measure for Measure
Timon of Athens
6. "Spacious Mirror:" The Epic Futility of Political Activity in a World Without Redemption King Lear Macbeth
Antony and Cleopatra
Coriolanus
7. "My Glass, Mine Own:" Human Play and Identity Reconciled Through Performative Faith Pericles, Prince of Tyre Cymbeline
The Winter's Tale
The Tempest
The Two Noble Kinsmen
Henry VIII
Epilogue: "Through A Glass, Darkly" Bibliography
About the author
Edward Evans received his BA in Ancient and Modern History and MPhil in Oriental Studies from the University of Oxford. He received his Ph.D. in English Literature from Bar-Ilan University.
Summary
Clear mirrors and scripture in English, revolutionary innovations of the Elizabethan age, inspired Shakespeare’s drive towards a new purpose for drama.
