‘How can you say to me I am a King?’: New Historicism and its (Re)interpretations of the Design of Kingly Figures in Shakespeare’s History Plays
The 1980’s saw the emergence of New Historicist criticism, particularly through Stephen Greenblatt’s work. Its legacy remains influential, particularly on Shakespearean Studies. I wish to outline New Historicist methodological insights, comment on some of its criticisms and provide analytical commen...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Lodz University Press
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Multicultural Shakespeare |
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| Online Access: | https://czasopisma.uni.lodz.pl/szekspir/article/view/8735 |
| _version_ | 1828364101050433536 |
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| author | James Dale |
| author_facet | James Dale |
| author_sort | James Dale |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The 1980’s saw the emergence of New Historicist criticism, particularly through Stephen Greenblatt’s work. Its legacy remains influential, particularly on Shakespearean Studies. I wish to outline New Historicist methodological insights, comment on some of its criticisms and provide analytical comments on the changing approach to historical plays, asking “What has New Historicism brought into our understanding of historical plays and the way(s) of designing kingly power?” Examining Shakespeare’s second tetralogy, I will review Greenblatt’s contention that these plays largely focus on kingly power and its relationship to “subversion” and “containment”. I intend to focus on aspects of the plays that I believe have not received enough attention through New Historicism; particularly the design of the kingly figures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T05:11:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f23defe2e95041b383a8e93758ca4cf8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2300-7605 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T05:11:14Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Lodz University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Multicultural Shakespeare |
| spelling | doaj.art-f23defe2e95041b383a8e93758ca4cf82022-12-22T02:10:34ZengLodz University PressMulticultural Shakespeare2300-76052021-06-01233814315810.18778/2083-8530.23.098627‘How can you say to me I am a King?’: New Historicism and its (Re)interpretations of the Design of Kingly Figures in Shakespeare’s History PlaysJames Dale0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6896-205XUniversity of Warsaw, PolandThe 1980’s saw the emergence of New Historicist criticism, particularly through Stephen Greenblatt’s work. Its legacy remains influential, particularly on Shakespearean Studies. I wish to outline New Historicist methodological insights, comment on some of its criticisms and provide analytical comments on the changing approach to historical plays, asking “What has New Historicism brought into our understanding of historical plays and the way(s) of designing kingly power?” Examining Shakespeare’s second tetralogy, I will review Greenblatt’s contention that these plays largely focus on kingly power and its relationship to “subversion” and “containment”. I intend to focus on aspects of the plays that I believe have not received enough attention through New Historicism; particularly the design of the kingly figures.https://czasopisma.uni.lodz.pl/szekspir/article/view/8735new historicismshakespeare history playspowerdisguiseestrangementritualism |
| spellingShingle | James Dale ‘How can you say to me I am a King?’: New Historicism and its (Re)interpretations of the Design of Kingly Figures in Shakespeare’s History Plays Multicultural Shakespeare new historicism shakespeare history plays power disguise estrangement ritualism |
| title | ‘How can you say to me I am a King?’: New Historicism and its (Re)interpretations of the Design of Kingly Figures in Shakespeare’s History Plays |
| title_full | ‘How can you say to me I am a King?’: New Historicism and its (Re)interpretations of the Design of Kingly Figures in Shakespeare’s History Plays |
| title_fullStr | ‘How can you say to me I am a King?’: New Historicism and its (Re)interpretations of the Design of Kingly Figures in Shakespeare’s History Plays |
| title_full_unstemmed | ‘How can you say to me I am a King?’: New Historicism and its (Re)interpretations of the Design of Kingly Figures in Shakespeare’s History Plays |
| title_short | ‘How can you say to me I am a King?’: New Historicism and its (Re)interpretations of the Design of Kingly Figures in Shakespeare’s History Plays |
| title_sort | how can you say to me i am a king new historicism and its re interpretations of the design of kingly figures in shakespeare s history plays |
| topic | new historicism shakespeare history plays power disguise estrangement ritualism |
| url | https://czasopisma.uni.lodz.pl/szekspir/article/view/8735 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jamesdale howcanyousaytomeiamakingnewhistoricismanditsreinterpretationsofthedesignofkinglyfiguresinshakespeareshistoryplays |