Sacred and Secular Transactions in the Age of Shakespeare

The term "secular" inspires thinking about disenchantment, periodization, modernity, and subjectivity. The essays in Sacred and Secular Transactions in the Age of Shakespeare argue that Shakespeare's plays present "secularization" as a historical narrative of progress and a hermeneutic process that unleashes complex and often problematic transactions between sacred and secular. They reject a necessary opposition between "sacred" and "secular" and analyze how such categories intersect. The volumes diverse disciplinary perspectives and theoretical approaches shift our focus from literal religion and doctrinal issues to such aspects of early modern culture as theatrical performance, geography, race, architecture, music, and the visual arts.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 30 July 2019
Publisher: Northwestern University Press

The term "secular" evokes a range of intriguing concepts, including disenchantment, periodization, modernity, and subjectivity. In the collection of essays titled Sacred and Secular Transactions in the Age of Shakespeare, scholars argue that Shakespeare's plays present "secularization" not merely as a historical narrative of progress but also as a hermeneutic process that engenders intricate and often complex exchanges between sacred and secular realms. These transactions shape a wide array of ideas, encompassing pastoral government, performative language, wonder, and the spatial imagination.

When contemplating Shakespeare and secularization, it is essential to consider the historical, religious, and critical contexts that shaped his works. These essays challenge the notion of a rigid divide between "sacred" and "secular" and instead explore how these categories intersect and influence one another. Through fresh interpretations of plays such as Hamlet, The Tempest, Alls Well that Ends Well, and All Is True, secularization emerges as an interpretive act that delves into the cultural protocols of representation within Shakespeare's plays and the critical domains in which they are studied and taught.

The volumes in this collection feature diverse disciplinary perspectives and theoretical approaches, broadening our understanding of early modern culture. They shift our focus away from literal religion and doctrinal issues and toward such aspects as theatrical performance, geography, race, architecture, music, and the visual arts. By examining these interconnections, the essays offer valuable insights into the complex and multifaceted ways in which Shakespeare's plays and the secular world interacted during his time.

In conclusion, the term "secular" inspires thoughtful exploration of disenchantment, periodization, modernity, and subjectivity. The essays in Sacred and Secular Transactions in the Age of Shakespeare demonstrate how Shakespeare's plays present "secularization" as a historical narrative of progress and a hermeneutic process that unleashes complex and often problematic transactions between sacred and secular realms. By examining these transactions and their impact on ideas about pastoral government, performative language, wonder, and the spatial imagination, these essays contribute to our understanding of Shakespeare's plays and the broader cultural context in which they were produced.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780810140516