Tsubouchi, Dryden and Global Shakespeare

What does it mean for Shakespeare’s plays to be recognized as both ‘universal’ and ‘foreign’ in a recipient culture? In the case of Japan, where Shakespeare was initially received in the late nineteenth century, one answer might be that Japanese Shakespeareans have adopted a kind of ‘soft humanism’;...

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Main Author: Gallimore, Daniel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad de Alicante 2012-11-01
Series:Revista Alicantina de Estudios Ingleses
Online Access:https://raei.ua.es/article/view/2012-n25-tsubouchi-dryden-and-global-shakespeare
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author Gallimore, Daniel
author_facet Gallimore, Daniel
author_sort Gallimore, Daniel
collection DOAJ
description What does it mean for Shakespeare’s plays to be recognized as both ‘universal’ and ‘foreign’ in a recipient culture? In the case of Japan, where Shakespeare was initially received in the late nineteenth century, one answer might be that Japanese Shakespeareans have adopted a kind of ‘soft humanism’; in other words one not specifically situated against the horizon of the English Renaissance, but instead fulfilling a range of purposes within the local culture, not least the touting of ‘universal’ values. Universals appeal to societies perceived to lack a strong awareness of the individuated self, such as in late nineteenth century Japan, where the pioneering Shakespeare translator Tsubouchi Shōyō was among the first to encounter Shakespeare’s works. One influence on Tsubouchi’s translating style that is often overlooked is that of John Dryden, who becomes a central figure in the history of English literature which Tsubouchi published in 1901. Like Dryden, Tsubouchi finds in Shakespeare a forum for philosophical and ideological exchange; Dryden may well have provided Tsubouchi with a critical perspective on their predecessor. This article discusses their relationship with regard to Dryden’s influential adaptation of Antony and Cleopatra, All for Love (1678), and Tsubouchi’s 1915 translation of the same play.
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spelling doaj.art-5a7ad52ea82340639fc0484613d726d02022-12-21T21:18:16ZengUniversidad de AlicanteRevista Alicantina de Estudios Ingleses0214-48082171-861X2012-11-01258110.14198/raei.2012.25.074778Tsubouchi, Dryden and Global ShakespeareGallimore, DanielWhat does it mean for Shakespeare’s plays to be recognized as both ‘universal’ and ‘foreign’ in a recipient culture? In the case of Japan, where Shakespeare was initially received in the late nineteenth century, one answer might be that Japanese Shakespeareans have adopted a kind of ‘soft humanism’; in other words one not specifically situated against the horizon of the English Renaissance, but instead fulfilling a range of purposes within the local culture, not least the touting of ‘universal’ values. Universals appeal to societies perceived to lack a strong awareness of the individuated self, such as in late nineteenth century Japan, where the pioneering Shakespeare translator Tsubouchi Shōyō was among the first to encounter Shakespeare’s works. One influence on Tsubouchi’s translating style that is often overlooked is that of John Dryden, who becomes a central figure in the history of English literature which Tsubouchi published in 1901. Like Dryden, Tsubouchi finds in Shakespeare a forum for philosophical and ideological exchange; Dryden may well have provided Tsubouchi with a critical perspective on their predecessor. This article discusses their relationship with regard to Dryden’s influential adaptation of Antony and Cleopatra, All for Love (1678), and Tsubouchi’s 1915 translation of the same play.https://raei.ua.es/article/view/2012-n25-tsubouchi-dryden-and-global-shakespeare
spellingShingle Gallimore, Daniel
Tsubouchi, Dryden and Global Shakespeare
Revista Alicantina de Estudios Ingleses
title Tsubouchi, Dryden and Global Shakespeare
title_full Tsubouchi, Dryden and Global Shakespeare
title_fullStr Tsubouchi, Dryden and Global Shakespeare
title_full_unstemmed Tsubouchi, Dryden and Global Shakespeare
title_short Tsubouchi, Dryden and Global Shakespeare
title_sort tsubouchi dryden and global shakespeare
url https://raei.ua.es/article/view/2012-n25-tsubouchi-dryden-and-global-shakespeare
work_keys_str_mv AT gallimoredaniel tsubouchidrydenandglobalshakespeare