Tyrant, Shakespeare on politics, Stephen Greenblatt
Type
Classification
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Creator
1
Subject
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Content
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Author
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Mapped to
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Label
Tyrant, Shakespeare on politics, Stephen Greenblatt
Language
eng
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 193-195) and index
Index
index present
Literary form
non fiction
Main title
Tyrant
Nature of contents
bibliography
Oclc number
1011679254
Responsibility statement
Stephen Greenblatt
Sub title
Shakespeare on politics
Summary
"As an aging, tenacious Elizabeth I clung to power, a talented playwright probed the social causes, the psychological roots, and the twisted consequences of tyranny. In exploring the psyche (and psychoses) of the likes of Richard III, Macbeth, Lear, Coriolanus, and the societies they rule over, Stephen Greenblatt illuminates the ways in which William Shakespeare delved into the lust for absolute power and the catastrophic consequences of its execution. Cherished institutions seem fragile, political classes are in disarray, economic misery fuels populist anger, people knowingly accept being lied to, partisan rancor dominates, spectacular indecency rules--these aspects of a society in crisis fascinated Shakespeare and shaped some of his most memorable plays. With uncanny insight, he shone a spotlight on the infantile psychology and unquenchable narcissistic appetites of demagogues--and the cynicism and opportunism of the various enablers and hangers-on who surround them--and imagined how they might be stopped. As Greenblatt shows, Shakespeare's work, in this as in so many other ways, remains vitally relevant today."--Dust jacket
Table of contents
Oblique angles -- Party politics -- Fraudulent populism -- A matter of character -- Enablers -- Tyranny triumphant -- The instigator -- Madness in great ones -- Downfall and resurgence -- Resistible rise -- Coda
Incoming Resources
- Has instance1