Shakespeare is one of the most analysed and “criticised” poet in the history
of literature. Why Shakespeare? The answer is easy. He is not only most
analysed but also the most popular dramatist that has ever existed.
Shakespeare’s drama has been fascinating his audience and readers through the
centuries. The plots of Shakespeare’s drama seem to be simple, dealing with
human and social themes like love, marriage, murder, intrigue, complot and
revenge. On a first sight, they remember us of a good and entertaining
Hollywood Film. But is this all what Shakespeare has to say through his
drama? Did he really intend to write commercial plays, without giving a deeper
sense to his literary work? I don’t think so. I think Shakespeare achieved
through his “simple” plots to get deeply into the minds and souls of his
audience, in order to make them conceive the complexity of their own lives and
feelings. I do not intend to find out his personal message in the drama or to
interpret his intentions. I will rather concentrate on his work and try to find out,
what kind of message Shakespeare’s comedy transmitted to his audience and
above all to his experienced readers, better said, to his literary critics. My paper
shall reveal the complexity and the deep psychological meaning of
Shakespeare’s comedy. Returning to my first question why Shakespeare? I
would like to answer it, by quoting one of my favourite critics, Northrop Frye:
“For all that has been written about it, Shakespearean comedy still seams to me widely misunderstood and underestimated, and my main thesis, that the four romances are the inevitable and genuine culmination of the poet’s achievement, is clearly less obvious to many than it is to me.” 1
I consider Frye’s assumption on Shakespearean comedy the adequate answer to
my question. In this paper I intend to seek the deep sense of A Midsummer
Night’s Dream and The Tempest, by posting them in a mirror of changing critical approaches, beginning with the mythological view, continuing with the
political and new critical perspective and ending with my personal notes. My
main purpose in this paper is to demonstrate that Shakespeare’s comedy does
not only have a delighting function but also exercises a deep psychological
impact on the old and new generations. In my opinion he was not only a genius
of the drama, but also an initiator of the renaissance of mythical and archaic
values in the modern world.
Table of Contents
- Chapter 1: Introduction
- 1.1. Why Shakespeare's comedy
- 1.2. Methodology
- Chapter 2: Northrop Frye's - A natural Perspective
- 2.1. An introduction into Shakespearean Comedy and Romance
- Chapter 3: A Midsummer Night's Dream
- 3.1. The plot
- 3.2. The mythological perspective
- 3.3. The political perspective – an approach of new historical view
- 3.4. A Midsummer Night's Dream in a mirror of psychological and psychoanalycriticism
- Chapter 4: The Tempest
- 4.1. The plot
- 4.2. Fairytale or myth?
- 4.3. The postcolonial perspective – The Tempest - a paradigm of colonization?
- 4.4. The Tempest - an allegory on Shakespeare's retirement from the theatre?
- Chapter 5: New critical approaches on Shakespeare's comedy
- 5.1. A short introduction into the Modern Theories of Literature
- 5.2. New Criticism
- 5.3. Deconstruction
- 5.4. New criticism, Deconstruction and Shakespeare
- Chapter 6: Personal view
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to explore the depth and psychological impact of Shakespearean comedy, specifically examining A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest through various critical lenses. It seeks to demonstrate that Shakespeare's comedies are not merely entertaining but also offer profound insights into the human condition.
- The multifaceted nature of Shakespearean comedy.
- The application of diverse critical approaches (mythological, political, psychoanalytic, new critical) to Shakespeare's work.
- The exploration of Shakespeare's personal life and experiences as reflected in his comedies.
- The enduring relevance of Shakespeare's work across generations.
- The synthesis of various critical perspectives to develop a unique interpretation of Shakespearean comedy.
Chapter Summaries
Chapter 1: Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the paper's central question: Why is Shakespeare's comedy so enduringly popular and significant? It posits that Shakespeare's seemingly simple plots delve into the complexities of human life and emotions. The chapter introduces Northrop Frye's perspective on Shakespearean comedy as a key theoretical framework, emphasizing the need for a deeper understanding beyond surface-level interpretations. The methodology section outlines the critical approaches that will be used throughout the paper, including mythological, political, psychoanalytic, and new critical perspectives. The author intends to combine these approaches with personal interpretation to reveal the rich psychological depth and enduring relevance of Shakespeare's comedies.
Chapter 2: Northrop Frye's - A natural Perspective: This chapter introduces the critical principles of Northrop Frye regarding Shakespearean comedy and romance, defining comedy as a self-contained and satisfying world. Frye's view of Shakespearean comedies as "a single group unified by recurring images and structural devices" is analyzed, highlighting his romantic and perhaps imperialistic approach to the comedies. The chapter emphasizes the importance of critical reading and the diverse interpretations possible within the realm of literary criticism. It sets the stage for the subsequent chapters by establishing a theoretical foundation for understanding Shakespeare's comedic works.
Chapter 3: A Midsummer Night's Dream: This chapter delves into A Midsummer Night's Dream, exploring the play through mythological, political, and psychoanalytic lenses. The analysis considers the interplay of plot elements with the underlying mythological themes and their significance in understanding the play's central conflicts and resolutions. The political perspective examines the power dynamics within the play and its reflection of historical contexts. The psychoanalytic approach focuses on the characters' psychological states and the underlying motivations driving their actions, offering insights into the complexity of their relationships and choices. The chapter aims to provide a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the play's multilayered meanings.
Chapter 4: The Tempest: This chapter analyzes The Tempest, exploring its various interpretations as a fairytale, a paradigm of colonization, and an allegory of Shakespeare's retirement. It examines the interplay between the play’s fantastical elements and its underlying socio-political themes. The postcolonial perspective questions the implications of the play's portrayal of colonization and its impact on the colonized. The chapter also uses a psychological approach, examining the play as a reflection of Shakespeare's personal life and feelings about his career. The chapter explores these diverse perspectives to offer a holistic interpretation of The Tempest.
Chapter 5: New critical approaches on Shakespeare's comedy: This chapter introduces various modern literary theories, such as New Criticism, Deconstruction, and New Historicism, and explores their applicability to Shakespearean comedy. It examines how these theoretical lenses can illuminate different aspects of the plays, while also acknowledging the limitations of certain approaches in relation to Shakespeare's work. The chapter focuses on analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of each critical approach, including its applicability to understanding the complexities of Shakespeare's writings.
Keywords
Shakespearean comedy, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, Northrop Frye, mythological perspective, political perspective, psychoanalytic criticism, new criticism, deconstruction, postcolonialism, literary theory, Shakespeare's life and career, generational interpretation.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Shakespearean Comedy
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper explores the depth and psychological impact of Shakespearean comedy, specifically analyzing A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest through various critical lenses. It aims to demonstrate that Shakespeare's comedies offer profound insights into the human condition beyond mere entertainment.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper investigates the multifaceted nature of Shakespearean comedy, applying diverse critical approaches (mythological, political, psychoanalytic, new critical) to Shakespeare's work. It explores Shakespeare's personal life and experiences as reflected in his comedies, examines the enduring relevance of his work across generations, and synthesizes various critical perspectives to develop a unique interpretation of Shakespearean comedy.
Which plays are analyzed in detail?
The paper focuses primarily on two of Shakespeare's comedies: A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest. These plays are examined through multiple critical lenses to reveal their complex themes and meanings.
What critical perspectives are used in the analysis?
The paper employs a range of critical approaches, including mythological, political, psychoanalytic, and new critical perspectives (such as New Criticism and Deconstruction). It also incorporates a postcolonial perspective in the analysis of The Tempest.
How is Northrop Frye's work incorporated into the analysis?
Northrop Frye's perspective on Shakespearean comedy and romance serves as a key theoretical framework. His views on comedy as a self-contained and satisfying world, and his understanding of recurring images and structural devices in Shakespeare's comedies, are analyzed and discussed.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured into six chapters. Chapter 1 provides an introduction and outlines the methodology. Chapter 2 introduces Northrop Frye's critical perspective. Chapters 3 and 4 offer detailed analyses of A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest respectively, using various critical lenses. Chapter 5 explores modern literary theories and their application to Shakespearean comedy. Chapter 6 presents the author's personal view.
What are the chapter summaries?
Each chapter summary provides a concise overview of the content and analysis presented in that chapter. These summaries highlight the key arguments and findings related to Shakespeare's comedies and the applied critical approaches.
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
Keywords include: Shakespearean comedy, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, Northrop Frye, mythological perspective, political perspective, psychoanalytic criticism, new criticism, deconstruction, postcolonialism, literary theory, Shakespeare's life and career, generational interpretation.
What is the overall conclusion or argument of the paper?
The paper argues that Shakespeare's comedies are not simply entertaining but offer profound insights into the human condition. By applying diverse critical lenses, the paper aims to demonstrate the rich psychological depth and enduring relevance of Shakespeare's comedic works.
- Citation du texte
- Cornelia Kaltenbacher (Auteur), 2007, 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' and 'The Tempest' in the mirror of changing critical approaches, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/92718
