Shakespearean Gothic

Anne Williams, Christy Desmet

Description

This book explores the paradox that the Gothic (today's werewolves, vampires, and horror movies) owe their origins (and their legitimacy) to eighteenth-century interpretations of Shakespeare. As Shakespeare was being established as the supreme British writer throughout the century, he was cited as justification for early Gothic writers' fascination with the supernatural, their abandoning of literary "decorum," and their fascination with otherness and extremes of every kind. This book addresses the gap for an up to date analysis of Shakespeare's relation to the Gothic. An authority on the Gothic, E.J. Clery, has stated that "It would be impossible to overestimate the importance of Shakespeare as touchstone and inspiration for the terror mode, even if we feel the offspring are unworthy of their parent. Scratch the surface of any Gothic fiction and the debt to Shakespeare will be there." This book therefore addresses Shakespeare's importance to the Gothic tradition as a whole and also to particular, well-known and often studied Gothic works. It also considers the influence of the Gothic on Shakespeare, both in-print and on stage in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Britain. The introductory chapter places the chapters within the historical development of both Shakespearean reception and Gothic Studies. The book is divided into three parts: 1) Gothic Appropriations of "Shakespeare"; 2) Rewriting Shakespearean Plays and Characters; 3) Shakespeare Before/After the Gothic.
1) Gothic Appropriations of "Shakespeare"; 2) Rewriting Shakespearean Plays and Characters; 3) Shakespeare Before/After the Gothic.

Sujets

• Literary Criticism
• Idioma inglés
• English
• Romance
• Gothic
• Anglais

Informations

• Publié par: University of Wales Press
• Date de parution: 15 septembre 2009
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780708322628
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

Shakespearean Gothic

Edited by Christy Desmet and AnneWilliams

University of Wales Press

SHAKESPEAREAN GOTHIC

S ERIES P REFACE

Gothic Literary Studies is dedicated to publishing groundbreaking scholarship on Gothic in literature and film.The Gothic, which has been subjected to a variety of critical and theoretical approaches, is a form which plays an important role in our understanding of literary, intellectual and cultural histories. The series seeks to promote challenging and innovative approaches to Gothic which question any aspect of the Gothic tradition or perceived critical orthodoxy. Volumes in the series explore how issues such as gender, religion, nation and sexuality have shaped our view of the Gothic tradition. Both academically rigorous and informed by the latest develop- ments in critical theory, the series provides an important focus for scholastic developments in Gothic studies, literary studies, cultural studies and critical theory.The series will be of interest to students of all levels and to scholars and teachers of the Gothic and literary and cultural histories.

S ERIES E DITORS

Andrew Smith, University of Glamorgan Benjamin F. Fisher, University of Mississippi

E DITORIAL B OARD

Kent Ljungquist,Worcester Polytechnic Institute Massachusetts Richard Fusco, St Joseph’s University, Philadelphia David Punter, University of Bristol Chris Baldick, University of London Angela Wright, University of Sheffield Jerrold E. Hogle, University of Arizona

Shakespearean Gothic

Edited by Christy Desmet and Anne Williams

UNIVERSITY OF WALES PRESS CARDIFF 2009

© The Contributors, 2009

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, Saffron House, 6–10 Kirby Street, London, EC1N 8TS. Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the University of Wales Press, 10 Columbus Walk, Brigantine Place, Cardiff, CF10 4UP.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978-0-7083-2093-8 (hardback) 978-0-7083-2092-1 (paperback) e-ISBN 978-0-7083-2262-8

The rights of the Contributors to be identified as authors of their contributions has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77, 78 and 79 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Printed by Gutenberg Press,Tarxien, Malta

For our Mothers: in memory of Rosemary Desmet (1925–2007) and in gratitude to Gary Palmer Williams

Acknowledgements List of Illustrations List of Contributors Introduction

C ONTENTS

ix x xi 1

PART I: GOTHIC APPROPRIATIONS OF ‘SHAKESPEARE’

1

2

3

4

5

Reading Walpole Reading Shakespeare Anne Williams

Ann Radcliffe,‘The Shakespeare of Romance Writers’ Rictor Norton

The Curse of Shakespeare Jeffrey Kahan

PART II: REWRITING SHAKESPEARE’S PLAYS AND CHARACTERS

Shakespearean Shadows’ Parodic Haunting of Thomas Love Peacock’sNightmare Abbeyand Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey Marjean D. Purinton and Marliss C. Desens

Fatherly and Daughterly Pursuits: Mary Shelley’sMatilda and Shakespeare’sKing Lear Carolyn A.Weber

13

37

60

87

111

6

7

8

9

Contents

Into the Madman’s Dream: the Gothic Abduction of Romeo and Juliet Yael Shapira

Gothic Cordelias: the Afterlife ofKing Learand the Construction of Femininity Diane Long Hoeveler

PART III: SHAKESPEARE AS GOTHIC WRITER

‘We are not safe’: History, Fear and the Gothic in Richard III Jessica Walker

Remembering Ophelia: Ellen Terry and the Shakespearizing ofDracula Christy Desmet

10 ‘Rites of Memory’: the Heart of Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet Susan Allen Ford

Afterword: Shakespearean Gothic Frederick Burwick

Bibliography Index

viii

133

155

181

198

217

240

257 280