Exploring the intricate dynamics between renowned writers, this play delves into Shakespeare's connections with The Earl of Southampton, the enigmatic Dark Lady, and Christopher Marlowe during a pivotal period before Marlowe's untimely demise. It highlights themes of inspiration, rivalry, and the often-blurred lines of artistic influence. As the first part of a trilogy by Robert Brustein, it sets the stage for a deeper examination of Shakespeare's life and the literary world of his time.
Exploring contemporary cultural issues, this book features notable debates, including a celebrated exchange between Brustein and August Wilson on segregated casting. It defends the National Endowment for the Arts while addressing the effects of political correctness on theater and academia. Additionally, Brustein critiques "coercive philanthropy," offering a thought-provoking analysis of the challenges facing the arts today.
This book is a masterful and engaging exploration of both Shakespeare's works and his age. Concentrating on six recurring prejudices in Shakespeare’s plays—such as misogyny, elitism, distrust of effeminacy, and racism—Robert Brustein examines how Shakespeare and his contemporaries treated them. More than simply a thematic study, the book reveals a playwright constantly exploiting and exploring his own personal stances. These prejudices, Brustein finds, are not unchanging; over time they vary in intensity and treatment. Shakespeare is an artist who invariably reflects the predilections of his age and yet almost always manages to transcend them. Brustein considers the whole of Shakespeare's plays, from the early histories to the later romances, though he gives special attention to Hamlet, King Lear, Othello, and The Tempest. Drawing comparisons to plays by Marlowe, Middleton, and Marston, Brustein investigates how Shakespeare’s contemporaries were preoccupied with similar themes and how these different artists treated the current prejudices in their own ways. Rather than confining Shakespeare to his age, this book has the wonderful quality of illuminating both what he shared with his time and what is unique about his approach.
Set against the backdrop of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot, the story explores Shakespeare's precarious position as he navigates political tensions while commissioned by King James to create a play that legitimizes his reign. The narrative delves into the complexities of loyalty and survival during a time of upheaval, revealing how these themes influence the creation of Macbeth. This work is the second installment in Robert Brustein's trilogy about Shakespeare, following The English Channel and leading into the concluding piece.
The book emphasizes the importance of theater as both an art form and a lens for understanding contemporary society and culture. Robert Brustein argues that theater should entertain while also educating its audience, creating a balance between leisure and learning. Through humor and thought-provoking content, he aims to engage readers, proving that theater can stimulate both laughter and reflection.
Set during William Shakespeare's retirement, the narrative explores his struggles with a fatal illness that blurs the line between reality and his own creations. As he grapples with delusions, family tensions, and his legacy, Richard Burbage, his former collaborator, urges him to return to London and resume playwriting. This poignant tale delves into themes of memory, identity, and the burdens of creativity, serving as the concluding work in Robert Brustein's trilogy about Shakespeare's life.
