Abstract

For the student or general reader a bewildering gap often appears to exist between the stories that Shakespeare's plays enact and the meanings that critics adduce from them. This book bridges the gap between the play as story and as an inexhaustible source of critical enquiry. It demonstrates the variety of ways in which meaning is generated in Shakespearian drama, and suggests the kinds of approach that will allow the interested reader to explore the significance of the plays for himself. Contents: Verse and Prose; Imagery and Spectacle; Shakespeare's Expositions; Plays within Plays; Parallel Actions; The Treatment of Character; The Use of the Soliloquy; Art and Artifice; Conclusion: Discovering Shakespeare's Meaning D.