Majesty and the Masses in Shakespeare and Marlowe: Western Anti-Monarchism, The Earl of Essex Challenge, and Political Stagecraft

This book explores Shakespeare's politics through his later History Plays, revealing an anti-monarchist critique rooted in Western literature and philosophy from Hesiod to contemporaries. It challenges the belief in divine right monarchy and exposes the flaws of dynastic monarchy, highlighting Shakespeare's humane criticism of both monarchs and militarists.

Format: Hardback
Length: 364 pages
Publication date: 24 September 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This groundbreaking book delves into the intricate realm of Shakespeare's politics, as intricately woven into his later History Plays. It stands as the first-ever comprehensive exploration of anti-monarchism in Western literature, history, and philosophy, spanning from the ancient Greek poets Hesiod and Homer to contemporaries of Shakespeare, including George Buchanan and the authors of the Mirror for Magistrates. Through meticulous analysis, it unveils the profound anxiety and disdain for monarchic power that permeated prestigious Western writing, serving as an integral and enduring reflection on the institution of kingship. Challenging the prevailing notion that Elizabethans subscribed to the doctrine of divine right monarchy, the book uncovers the anti-monarchic critique embedded within Shakespeare's Histories and Marlowe's Massacre at Paris, unfolding in five chapters of close literary critical readings. It pays innovative attention to the performance values that enrich these texts.

Part Two of the book delves into the captivating story of Queen Elizabeth's primary challenger for national rule: the Earl of Essex, a man widely regarded as England's most beloved figure. Through meticulous readings, it emerges that Shakespeare, rather than portraying Essex as an admirer of the war-crazed, unstable, and bi-polar earl, as often claimed, launched a calculated campaign in Richard II and Henry IV to tarnish the reputation of the great earl. Shakespeare exposes Essex as a Machiavelian schemer, driven by his desire to seize Elizabeth's throne. What sets Shakespeare apart is his humane and insightful critique of the inherent flaws within dynastic monarchy, while simultaneously displaying a fierce opposition to the rash militarist, Essex, who would risk plunging England into an eternal war with Spain.

This book is a testament to the depth of Shakespeare's intellectual prowess and his ability to navigate the complex political landscape of his era. By grounding its findings in an extensive and groundbreaking study of anti-monarchist thought, it makes a significant contribution to Shakespeare and Marlowe criticism, Tudor England studies, and the broader history of ideas. It invites readers to explore the rich tapestry of Shakespeare's plays, where politics, power, and the human condition intertwine, and where the playwright.

Weight: 682g
Dimension: 159 x 236 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367482084