Shakespeare and Sexuality

This volume draws together ten important essays which use a variety of approaches and materials to explore the significance of sexuality in Shakespeare’s work. Some consider the erotic effect of Shakespeare’s language in his use of metaphor and the transgressive riddle and pun. Others are concerned with expressions of desire (male, female, inter-racial, homosexual and heterosexual) in performance as well as text. A radical re-reading of Shakespeare’s Sonnets shifts the sexual focus from a male lover to a black woman. The essays, many of which are reprinted from Shakespeare Survey, are introduced by Ann Thompson’s freshly considered survey of the topic in recent criticism, and conclude with a new account by Celia Daileader of nudity in Shakespeare films.

• Some very big names here: Thompson, Belsey, Hattaway, de Grazia, Russell Brown • Broad range of coverage and approaches, including performance issues • Consists of 7 reprinted articles from Shakespeare Survey, one intro survey, one from New Theatre Quarterly, one entirely new

1. Shakespeare and sexuality Ann Thompson; 2. Language and sexuality in Shakespeare William C. Carroll; 3. Death and desire in Romeo and Juliet Lloyd Davis; 4. The legacy of Juliet’s desire in comedies of the early 1600s Mary Bly; 5. Love in Venice Catherine Belsey; 6. Male sexuality and misogyny Michael Hattaway; 7. Consummation, custom and law in All’s Well that Ends Well Subha Mukherji; 8. The scandal of Shakespeare’s Sonnets Margreta de Grazia; 9. Representing sexuality in Shakespeare’s plays John Russell Brown; 10. Nude Shakespeare in film and nineties popular feminism Celia R. Daileader.

\'This is a skilfully edited volume that traverses a number of Shakespearian and non-Shakespearian texts, and offers a representative variety of different approaches to this perplexing topic. … important contributions to a debate that shows no sign of abating.\' Notes and Queries