Shakespearean Intersections: Language, Contexts, Critical Keywords

Patricia Parker's book "Love's Labor's Lost: Shakespeare's Geopolitical Imagination" explores how Shakespeare's plays use keywords to reveal geopolitical boundaries and their breaching, the significance of the quince in "A Midsummer Night's Dream," the evocation of Spanish-occupied Brabant in "Othello," the connotation of supposes in "The Taming of the Shrew," and the transvestite practice of boys playing women in "Cymbeline." Parker's readings provide innovative and interdisciplinary perspectives on Shakespeare, demonstrating how textual details reverberate within and beyond the Shakespearean text and suggesting that the boundary between language and context is an incontinent divide.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 424 pages
Publication date: 24 November 2023
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press

The keyword "continence" in Love's Labor's Lost reveals a lot about geopolitical boundaries and their breaching. It suggests that the boundaries between different countries or regions are not always as fixed as they seem, and that people can cross them in various ways. The play also highlights the consequences of breaching these boundaries, such as the chaos and confusion that ensues when the King of Navarre and his men cross into the territory of the Duke of Austria.

The contemporary identification of the quince with weddings is crucial for A Midsummer Night's Dream. The quince is a traditional English fruit that is often used in wedding ceremonies, and it is associated with the idea of fertility and marriage. In the play, the Duke of Athens and his men are invited to a wedding, and they are surprised to find that the bride is actually a quince, which is a symbol of the marriage between the Duke of Athens and the Duke of Milan. This association with weddings suggests that the play is exploring the themes of love, marriage, and the power of magic.

The evocation of Spanish-occupied Brabant in Othello resonates with contemporary geopolitical contexts. The play is set in Venice, which was a major trading hub in the Mediterranean during the Renaissance. The Spanish were also active in the region, and they had a significant presence in Brabant, which is now a part of Belgium. The play explores the themes of jealousy, power, and race, and it uses the Spanish occupation of Brabant as a backdrop to highlight the tensions between the different characters.

The wordplay on "Low Countries" in Othello is also significant. The term "Low Countries" refers to the region of the Netherlands and Belgium, which were also occupied by the Spanish during the Renaissance. The play uses this wordplay to suggest that the Spanish are not just a foreign power, but that they are also a threat to the stability and security of the region. The play also uses the wordplay to highlight the differences between the characters, such as the difference between Othello, who is black, and Iago, who is white.

The fears of sexual/territorial occupation that are expressed in Othello are also relevant to contemporary geopolitical contexts. The play explores the themes of jealousy, power, and race, and it uses the fear of sexual/territorial occupation to highlight the dangers of unchecked power. The play also uses the fear of sexual/territorial occupation to suggest that the boundaries between different people or groups are not always as clear as they seem, and that people can be manipulated and controlled in various ways.

The supposes in The Taming of the Shrew connotes not only sexual submission but also the transvestite practice of boys playing women. The play explores the themes of gender roles, power, and marriage, and it uses the supposes to highlight the differences between the characters. The supposes also suggest that the boundaries between different genders are not always as clear as they seem, and that people can be manipulated and controlled in various ways.

The dramatic recognition scene in Cymbeline is also significant in terms of the keyword "continence." The scene is set in a forest, and the King of Cymbeline is disguised as an old man. The King is surprised to find that his daughter, Imogen, is in love with a man named Posthumus. The King is initially angry and refuses to recognize Posthumus as his son-in-law, but he eventually comes to recognize Posthumus as his son-in-law and gives him his blessing.

The keyword "continence" in this scene suggests that the boundaries between different people or groups are not always as clear as they seem. The King is initially resistant to the idea of his daughter marrying a man who is not of her social class, but he eventually comes to recognize the importance of love and the power of family. The scene also highlights the importance of recognizing and respecting the boundaries between different people or groups, even if they are different from our own.

Overall, the keyword "continence" in Shakespeare's plays reveals a lot. It suggests that the boundaries between different countries or regions are not always as fixed as they seem, and that people can cross them in various ways. It also highlights the consequences of breaching these boundaries, such as the chaos and confusion that ensues when the King of Navarre and his men cross into the territory of the Duke of Austria. The contemporary identification of the quince with weddings is crucial for A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the evocation of Spanish-occupied Brabant in Othello resonates with contemporary geopolitical contexts. The wordplay on "Low Countries" in Othello is also significant, and the fears of sexual/territorial occupation that are expressed in Othello are relevant to contemporary geopolitical contexts. The supposes in The Taming of the Shrew connotes not only sexual submission but also the transvestite practice of boys playing women, and the dramatic recognition scene in Cymbeline is significant in terms of the keyword "continence."

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781512825558