Shakespeare'S Essays: Testing and Trying Montaigne, from Hamlet to the Tempest

Peter G. Platt argues that the Essais of Montaigne were a crucial factor in the composition of later Shakespearean drama, providing a new way of accounting for the different sorts of plays that Shakespeare wrote later in his career. He provides a detailed history of the literary-critical interest in the Montaigne-Shakespeare connection from the eighteenth century to the present day, and case studies that show the shared concerns of the authors. Platt's approach differs from the more typical method of looking merely for verbal echoes, resulting in a deeper, richer sense of the way that Shakespeare's reading of Montaigne shaped his writing.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 31 October 2020
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Platt argues that the Essais of Montaigne were a crucial factor in the composition of later Shakespearean drama. He provides a detailed history of the literary-critical interest in the Montaigne-Shakespeare connection, from the eighteenth century to the present day. Platt explores both authors' approaches to self, knowledge, and form that stress fractures, interruptions, and alternatives. While the change in monarchy, the revived interest in judicial rhetoric, and the alterations in Shakespeare's acting company helped shape plays such as Measure for Measure, King Lear, and The Tempest, this book contends that Shakespeare's reading of Montaigne is an under-recognised driving force in these later plays.

Platt's study differs from the more typical method of looking merely for verbal echoes, resulting in a deeper, richer sense of the way that Shakespeare's reading of Montaigne shaped his writing. He provides case studies that demonstrate the shared concerns of the authors, such as the use of the essay form, the exploration of the self, and the critique of social and political institutions. Platt also highlights the influence of Montaigne's ideas on Shakespeare's language, imagery, and character development.

One of the key arguments of Platt's study is that Montaigne's essays provided Shakespeare with a new way of accounting for the different sorts of plays that he wrote later in his career. Montaigne's essays were characterized by their exploration of the self, their emphasis on the importance of experience, and their rejection of traditional forms of knowledge. Shakespeare, who was also interested in the self and experience, found in Montaigne's essays a source of inspiration and a way to develop his own unique style of writing.

Platt's study also highlights the influence of Montaigne's ideas on Shakespeare's language. Montaigne's essays were known for their use of metaphor, simile, and other figurative language, and Shakespeare was a master of this technique. Platt argues that Shakespeare's use of figurative language in his later plays, such as Hamlet and Macbeth, is influenced by Montaigne's ideas about the power of language to shape our understanding of the world.

In addition to the influence of Montaigne's ideas on Shakespeare's language and character development, Platt's study also highlights the influence of Montaigne's ideas on Shakespeare's staging and performance. Montaigne's essays were known for their emphasis on the importance of the audience and the role of the actor in the performance of a play. Shakespeare, who was also a skilled actor and director, was influenced by Montaigne's ideas about the importance of the actor's presence and the role of the audience in the interpretation of a play.

Platt's study also provides a detailed analysis of the specific plays that Shakespeare wrote later in his career and how they were influenced by Montaigne's ideas. He argues that Shakespeare's plays such as Measure for Measure, King Lear, and The Tempest are particularly influenced by Montaigne's ideas about the nature of power, the role of the individual in society, and the importance of self-knowledge.

In conclusion, Peter G. Platt's revisionist study provides a detailed history of the literary-critical interest in the Montaigne-Shakespeare connection from the eighteenth century to the present day. Through sustained close-readings of Montaigne's essays and Shakespeare's plays, Platt explores both authors' approaches to self, knowledge, and form that stress fractures, interruptions, and alternatives. While the change in monarchy, the revived interest in judicial rhetoric, and the alterations in Shakespeare's acting company helped shape plays such as Measure for Measure, King Lear, and The Tempest, this book contends that Shakespeare's reading of Montaigne is an under-recognised driving force in these later plays. Platt's study provides case studies that demonstrate the shared concerns of the authors, highlights the influence of Montaigne's ideas on Shakespeare's language, imagery, and character development, and provides a detailed analysis of the specific plays that Shakespeare wrote later in his career and how they were influenced by Montaigne's ideas.

Weight: 462g
Dimension: 163 x 240 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474463409