Shakespeare's Visionary Women

Shakespeare's visionary women, who are typically marginalized, take center stage to express their sleeping and waking dreams. They use rhetoric to persuade and intervene in political action, challenging skepticism and providing a brief moment of access to political conversations.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 86 pages
Publication date: 21 December 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Shakespeare's visionary women, often relegated to the periphery, take center stage to articulate their sleeping and waking dreams. These women employ rhetoric as a powerful tool to persuade and actively intervene in political affairs. The visions explored in this Element go beyond mere inspiration; they represent acts of political intercession. The visionary performances or narratives presented on stage offer a prophetic moment of female speech that challenges audiences to confront questions of narrative truth and women's testimony. This Element delves into the skepticism faced by Shakespeare's visionary women and explores their strategies for conveying the truth of their experiences to a hostile onstage audience. It concludes that prophecy grants women a fleeting opportunity to participate in political conversations, where they are not traditionally welcome. By wresting narrative control from male speakers and speaking their truth aloud, these women assert their agency and contribute to shaping the narrative landscape.

ISBN-13: 9781009054911