Inscribing the Time: Shakespeare and the End of Elizabethan England

Eric Mallin combines new historicism, feminism, and postmodern textual analysis to explore how contemporary pressures influenced three Shakespeare plays written at the end of Elizabeth's reign. The plays echo the events and anxieties of the seventeenth century, such as the rebellion of the Earl of Essex, the danger of the bubonic plague, and nostalgia for an earlier period of Elizabeth's rule.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 19 August 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

Eric Mallin delves into the intricate interplay of new historicism, feminism, and postmodern textual analysis to explore the profound impact of contemporary pressures on three Shakespearean plays penned towards the end of Elizabeth's reign. Through meticulous examination of the language employed in Troilus and Cressida, Hamlet, and Twelfth Night, Mallin uncovers the ways in which these plays mirror the events and anxieties that characterized the early seventeenth century.

In Troilus, the rebellion of the Earl of Essex and the collapse of the courtly, chivalric style are vividly depicted, resonating with the tumultuous political climate of the time. Hamlet, on the other hand, captures the pervasive fear of the bubonic plague and the complex succession history of James I, reflecting the uncertainties and dangers of the era. Twelfth Night, infused with nostalgia for a more secure period of Elizabeth's rule, portrays a longing for a time when her authority over religious and erotic affairs seemed more unchallenged.

This title is proudly part of UC Press' Voices Revived program, a testament to the publisher's commitment to seeking out and nurturing the brightest minds in academia. By utilizing print-on-demand technology, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible to a wider audience, ensuring that the insights and discoveries of the past are preserved and revitalized for generations to come. Originally published in 1995, this title stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Shakespearean drama and the power of literary analysis to shed light on the complexities of human experience.

Weight: 408g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520332942