Hamlet And The Concept Of Character

""Like the life of any contained society," writes Bert O. States, "the phenomenal life of character reveals itself in a process of endurance, repetition, and interchange within a world that has a coherent character in itself and makes consistent demands on its citizens. One cannot study character thoroughly by making spot behavioral checks." Likening his approach to that of a field anthropologist conducting a long-term study of a single society, States explores the nature of dramatic character by examining the inhabitants of one of the world's best-known plays." "In the first part of "Hamlet" and the Concept of Character, States lays the theoretical groundwork by exploring such topics as the relationship of character change to character persistence; the theory of traits; the interplay between character and environment; and the problem of the humors and their obvious connection to Hamlet. The second part examines the significance of the major characters of the play (King Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, Polonius, Laertes, Ophelia, and Horatio) in the formation of the Hamlet "mystery.""--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Designed for first year students, this innovative guide builds on the usual knowledge base of students beginning literary study in HE by focusing on the familiar characters but introducing more sophisticated analysis.

Complete Unabridged Beautiful Hamlet, or The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, by William Shakespeare is one of the most influential works of world literature. Enjoy it again or for the very first time in this stylish new paperback edition.

Michael C. Schoenfeldt here offers the first major exploration of the connections between George Herbert's devotional poetry and the social practices and political discourse of his day. Viewing The Temple and The Country Parson as part of the larger "civilizing process" of Western Europe, Schoenfeldt shows how Herbert discovers in the discourses of courtesy and theology a common vocabulary of authority, selfhood, petition, and discipline. Before entering the priesthood, Herbert nourished contacts in court, was elected University Orator at Cambridge, and served in Parliament. In turning to God, Schoenfeldt argues, Herbert did not simply turn away from the secular world but also turned its language, particularly the language of courtesy, into the medium for his lyric worship of God. The confluence of courtesy and spirituality in Herbert's poetry provides a fascinating insight into a society searching for an appropriate discourse of reverence in a time of baffling change. The first five chapters investigate the manifold ways in which Herbert's life and works exemplify the interdependence of social and religious behavior in the English Renaissance. The sixth and final chapter extends this investigation into the nervous eroticism of Herbert's poems. Considering The Temple as well as Herbert's letters, speeches, Latin poems, collections of foreign proverbs, translations, The Country Parson, and less familiar lyrics, Schoenfeldt offers a thorough and detailed reading of Herbert's rich and conflicted corpus. Prayer and Power is not only a bold redefinition of the accomplishment of one of the finest poets of the English Renaissance but also the first sustained study to advance a cultural poetics of the religious lyric.

Graphic novel adaptation of Prince Hamlet's struggle to deliver justice on his own terms.

A study tracing the impact and evolution of Shakespeare's Hamlet.

An Oprah's Book Club Pick A #1 New York Times Bestseller A National Bestseller Beautifully written and elegantly paced, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is a coming-of-age novel about the power of the land and the past to shape our lives. It is a riveting tale of retribution, inhabited by empathic animals, prophetic dreams, second sight, and vengeful ghosts. Born mute, Edgar Sawtelle feels separate from the people around him but is able to establish profound bonds with the animals who share his home and his name: his family raises a fictional breed of exceptionally perceptive and affable dogs. Soon after his father's sudden death, Edgar is stunned to learn that his mother has already moved on as his uncle Claude quickly becomes part of their lives. Reeling from the sudden changes to his quiet existence, Edgar flees into the forests surrounding his Wisconsin home accompanied by three dogs. Soon he is caught in a struggle for survival—the only thing that will prepare him for his return home.

First published in 1950. This volume contains the essence of over three hundred well-known literary critics who, between 1661 and 1947, considered the great literary riddle of the years · Entries arranged chronologically by date of publication · International authorship of material