Shakespeare's Binding Language

Description

This remarkable, innovative book explores the significance in Shakespeare's plays of oaths, vows, contracts, pledges and the other utterances and acts by which characters commit themselves to the truth of things past, present, and to come. In early modern England, such binding language was everywhere. Oaths of office, marriage vows, legal bonds, and casual, everyday profanity gave shape and texture to life. The proper use of such language, and the extent of its power to bind, was argued over by lawyers, religious writers, and satirists, and these debates inform literature and drama. Shakespeare's Binding Language gives a freshly researched account of these contexts, but it is focused on the plays. What motives should we look for when characters asseverate or promise? How far is binding language self-persuasive or deceptive? When is it allowable to break a vow? How do oaths and promises structure an audience's expectations? Across the sweep of Shakespeare's career, from the early histories to the late romances, this book opens new perspectives on key dramatic moments and illuminates language and action. Each chapter gives an account of a play or group of plays, yet the study builds to a sustained investigation of some of the most important systems, institutions, and controversies in early modern England, and of the wiring of Shakespearean dramaturgy. Scholarly but accessible, and offering startling insights, this is a major contribution to Shakespeare studies by one of the leading figures in the field. Cover SHAKESPEARE’S BINDING LANGUAGE COPYRIGHT DEDICATION CONTENTS PREFACE Chapter 1: Introduction (i) Enter Hector and Andromache (ii) Works (iii) Judaeo-Christian and classical traditions (iv) Words (v) Gender, status, and cultural difference (vi) Scholarship (vii) Perplexities Chapter 2: Early Revenge: 3 Henry VI to Titus Andronicus Chapter 3: Swearing in Jest: Love’s Labour’s Lost Chapter 4: A World-Without-End Bargain: Love’s Labour’s Lost Chapter 5: Group Revenge: Titus Andronicus to Othello Chapter 6: Time and Money: The Comedy of Errors and The Merchant of Venice Chapter 7: Shylock and Wedlock: Carnal Bonds Chapter 8: Mighty Opposites: 2 Henry VI to Hamlet Chapter 9: Oaths, Threats, and Henry V Chapter 10: Troilus, Cressida, and Constancy Chapter 11: Binding Language in Measure for Measure Chapter 12: Knots, Charms, Riddles: Macbeth and All’s Well That Ends Well Chapter 13: Benefits and Bonds: King Lear and Timon of Athens Chapter 14: Reformation I: King James, King Johan, and King John Chapter 15: Reformation II: Sir Thomas More and Henry VIII Chapter 16: Coriolanus Fidiussed Chapter 17: Oath and Counsel: Cymbeline and The Winter’s Tale Chapter 18: Epilogue Notes chapter 1 introduction chapter 2 early revenge chapter 3 swearing in je st chapter 4 a world-without-end bargain chapter 5 group revenge chapter 6 time and money chapter 7 shylock and wedlock chapter 8 mighty opposites chapter 9 oaths, threats, and henry v chapter 10 troilus, cressida, and constancy chapter 11 binding language in measure for measure chapter 12 knots, charms, riddles chapter 13 benefits and bonds chapter 14 reformation i chapter 15 reformation ii chapter 16 coriolanus fidiussed chapter 17 oath and counsel chapter 18 epilogue Bibliography shakespeare and early modern drama other primary sources select list of secondary sources Index