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William Shakespeare is possibly the most revered writer of the English language. This volume offers critical essays examining the human drama in Shakespeare's work, studying his plays, and more. Also included is an informative biography of the Bard, a complete bibliography of his work, and a list of critical work about the writer. This series is edited by Harold Bloom, Sterling Professor of the Humanities, Yale University; Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Professor of English, New York University Graduate School; preeminent literary critic of our time. The lives of the greatest writers of the world are explored in the new series Bloom’s BioCritiques. In addition to a lengthy biography, each book includes an extensive critical analysis of the writer’s work, as well as critical views by important literary critics throughout history. These volumes are the perfect introduction to critical study of the important authors currently read and discussed in high schools, colleges, and graduate schools.
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Bloom’s Classic Critical Views W i l l ia m Sha k e sp e a r e Bloom's Classic Critical Views Alfred, Lord Tennyson Benjamin Franklin The Brontës Charles Dickens Edgar Allan Poe Geoffrey Chaucer George Eliot George Gordon, Lord Byron Henry David Thoreau Herman Melville Jane Austen John Donne and the Metaphysical Poets John Milton Jonathan Swift Mark Twain Mary Shelley Nathaniel Hawthorne Oscar Wilde Percy Shelley Ralph Waldo Emerson Robert Browning Samuel Taylor Coleridge Stephen Crane Walt Whitman William Blake William Shakespeare William Wordsworth Bloom’s Classic Critical Views W i l l ia m Sha k e sp e a r e Edited and with an Introduction by Harold Bloom Sterling Professor of the Humanities Yale University Bloom’s Classic Critical Views: William Shakespeare Copyright © 2010 Infobase Publishing Introduction © 2010 by Harold Bloom All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. For more information contact: Bloom’s Literary Criticism An imprint of Infobase Publishing 132 West 31st Street New York NY 10001 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data William Shakespeare╇ /╇ edited and with an introduction by Harold Bloom : Neil Heims, volume editor. â•…â•… p. cm. — (Bloom’s classic critical views) â•… Includes bibliographical references and index. â•… ISBN 978-1-60413-723-1 (hardcover) â•… ISBN 978-1-4381-3425-3 (e-book) â•… 1. Shakespeare, William, 1564–1616—Criticism and interpretation.â•… I.╇ Bloom, Harold.â•… II.╇ Heims, Neil. â•… PR2976.W5352╇ 2010 â•… 822.3'3—dc22 2010010067 Bloom’s Literary Criticism books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk quantities for businesses, associations, institutions, or sales promotions. Please call our Special Sales Department in New York at (212) 967-8800 or (800) 322-8755. You can find Bloom’s Literary Criticism on the World Wide Web at http://www.chelseahouse.com Volume editor: Neil Helms Series design by Erika K. Arroyo Cover designed by Takeshi Takahashi Composition by IBT Global, Inc. Cover printed by IBT Global, Inc., Troy NY Book printed and bound by IBT Global, Inc., Troy NY Date printed: August 2010 Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 This book is printed on acid-free paper. All links and Web addresses were checked and verified to be correct at the time of publication. Because of the dynamic nature of the Web, some addresses and links may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. Contents QQQ Series Introduction ix Introduction by Harold Bloom xi Biography <