The Cambridge Companion to Shakespearean Tragedy

The Cambridge Companion to Shakespearean Tragedy acquaints the student reader with the forms, contexts, critical and theatrical lives of the ten plays considered to be Shakespeare’s tragedies. Shakespearean tragedy is a highly complex and demanding theatre genre, but the thirteen essays, written by leading scholars in Britain and North America, are clear, concise and informative. They address the ways in which Shakespearean tragedy originated, developed and diversified, as well as how it has fared on stage, as text and in criticism. Topics covered include the literary precursors of Shakespearean tragedies (medieval, classical, and contemporary), cultural backgrounds (political, religious, social, and psychological), and the subgenres of Shakespeare’s tragedy (love tragedy, revenge tragedy, and classical tragedy), as well as the critical and theatrical receptions of the plays. The book examines the four major tragedies and, in addition, Titus Andronicus, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, Coriolanus and Timon of Athens.

• Enlarges traditional canon to include ten tragic plays from all phases of Shakespeare’s career • Complements the other five Companions already published on Shakespearean themes • Aimed at second and third year undergraduates

Preface; 1. What is a Shakespearean tragedy? Tom McAlindon; 2. The language of tragedy Russ McDonald; 3. Tragedy in Shakespeare’s career David Bevington; 4. Shakespearean tragedy printed and performed Michael Warren; 5. Religion and Shakespearean tragedy Huston Diehl; 6. Tragedy and political authority Michael Hattaway; 7. Gender and family Catherine Belsey; 8. The tragic subject and its passions Gail Kern Paster; 9. Tragedies of revenge and ambition Robert N. Watson; 10. Shakespeare’s tragedies of love Catherine Bates; 11. Shakespeare’s classical tragedies Coppélia Kahn; 12. The critical reception of Shakespeare’s tragedies R. A. Foakes; 13. Antony and Cleopatra in the theatre Barbara Hodgdon.

‘… the volume will be useful for all students of Shakespeare and the general public wishing to learn about the latest state of play in perceptions of Shakespearean tragedy, or to refresh their memory on the subject. In short, this Cambridge Companion is very highly recommended and should be purchased by all libraries.’ Language and Literature