Reading Shakespeare’s Soliloquies: Text, Theatre, Film

Description

“Now I am alone,” says Hamlet before speaking a soliloquy. But what is a Shakespearean soliloquy? How has it been understood in literary and theatrical history? How does it work in screen versions of Shakespeare? What influence has it had? Neil Corcoran offers a thorough exploration and explanation of the origin, nature, development and reception of Shakespeare's soliloquies. Divided into four parts, the book supplies the historical, dramatic and theoretical contexts necessary to understanding, offers extensive and insightful close readings of particular soliloquies and includes interviews with eight renowned Shakespearean actors providing details of the practical performance of the soliloquy. A comprehensive study of a key aspect of Shakespeare's dramatic art, this book is ideal for students and theatre-goers keen to understand the complexities and rewards of Shakespeare's unique use of the soliloquy. FC Half title Related Titles Title Copyright Contents List of illustrations Preface I Soliloquies in practice 1. Is this a dagger? 2. Attributes of Shakespearean soliloquy II Soliloquies in theory 1. Now I am alone 2. Origins i. Medieval ii. Classical into Renaissance iii. Marlowe iv. Montaigne 3. Soliloquy and self 4. Staging soliloquy 5. Some kinds of soliloquy i. Choral soliloquy ii. Political soliloquy iii. Soliloquy, sexuality and gender 6. The mind’s construction III Soliloquies in performance Introduction 1. Noma Dumezweni 2. Mariah Gale 3. Lucian Msamati 4. Pippa Nixon 5. Jonjo O’Neill 6. Jonathan Slinger 7. Alex Waldmann 8. Dame Harriet Walter IV Soliloquies in play Introduction 1. Richard in Richard III, with Henry VI, Part 3 2. Romeo and Juliet 3. Othello Select bibliography Index