Shakespeare and Machiavelli

John Roe

ISBN 10: 0859917649 / ISBN 13: 9780859917643

Published by Boydell and Brewer Ltd, GB, 2002

About this Item

A detailed comparison of Machiavelli with Shakespeare, grounded in their common use of rhetoric.Although the question of Machiavellian influence on Shakespeare has been thoroughly debated, this book represents the first attempt to compare the two authors in detail. The playwright and the political philosopher share a commonground, a fascination with the motives and morality of political action, which makes for remarkable similarities in their presentation of the subject. In his deploying of the argument, the author of Il Principe emerges as a dramatic writer, like his English counterpart. The book, while taking in an obvious "Machiavel" figure such as Richard III, considers Machiavelli in relation to Shakespeare's depiction of more conventionally noble princes such as HenryV, together with other monarchs from the Henriad - Richard II and Henry IV - as well as King John. Though the Shakespearean focus falls on the histories, tragic heroes such as Hamlet and Macbeth also receive attention. The study concludes with two chapters on the Roman plays and assesses Shakespeare's representation of the problem of conscience (Julius Caesar) and magnanimity (Antony and Cleopatra) in the light of Machiavelli's republicanism. JOHN ROE is Senior Lecturer at the University of York.

Seller Inventory # LU-9780859917643

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Shakespeare and Machiavelli
• Publisher: Boydell and Brewer Ltd, GB
• Publication Date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0859917649
• ISBN 13: 9780859917643
• Binding: Hardback
• Condition: New
• Dimensions: 6.14W x 0.56H x 9.21D inches 6.14 inches width by 0.56 inches height by 9.21 inches depth
• Weight: 1 gram

About this title

Synopsis

A detailed comparison of Machiavelli with Shakespeare, grounded in their common use of rhetoric.

Although the question of Machiavellian influence on Shakespeare has been thoroughly debated, this book represents the first attempt to compare the two authors in detail. The playwright and the political philosopher share a commonground, a fascination with the motives and morality of political action, which makes for remarkable similarities in their presentation of the subject. In his deploying of the argument, the author of Il Principe emerges as a dramatic writer, like his English counterpart. The book, while taking in an obvious "Machiavel" figure such as Richard III, considers Machiavelli in relation to Shakespeare's depiction of more conventionally noble princes such as HenryV, together with other monarchs from the Henriad - Richard II and Henry IV - as well as King John. Though the Shakespearean focus falls on the histories, tragic heroes such as Hamlet and Macbeth also receive attention. The study concludes with two chapters on the Roman plays and assesses Shakespeare's representation of the problem of conscience (Julius Caesar) and magnanimity (Antony and Cleopatra) in the light of Machiavelli's republicanism.

JOHN ROE is Senior Lecturer at the University of York.

About the Author

JOHN ROE is professor of Renaissance Literature, University of York, York, UK.