30 Great Myths About Shakespeare

.- «'1? ' ‘ II I: {1‘3"}: ”I. . .— GREAT MYTHS ABOUT SHAKESPEARE Laurie E. Haguire and Emma Smith «WWI LEY- BLACKWELL 30 GREAT MYTHS ABOUT SHAKESPEARE For Katherine Duncan-Jones 30 GREAT MYTHS ABOUT SHAKESPEARE Laurie Maguire Emma Smith A John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Publication This edition first published 2013© 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd Wiley-Blackwell is an imprint of John Wiley & Sons, formed by the merger of Wiley’s global Scientific, Technical and Medical business with Blackwell Publishing. Registered Office John Wiley & Sons Ltd, The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK Editorial Offices 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148-5020, USA 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford, OX4 2DQ, UK The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK For details of our global editorial offices, for customer services, and for information about how to apply for permission to reuse the copyright material in this book please see our website at www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell. The right of Laurie Maguire and Emma Smith to be identified as the authors of this work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as permitted by the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, without the prior permission of the publisher. Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books. Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publisher is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold on the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering professional services. If professional advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Maguire, Laurie E. 30 great myths about Shakespeare / Laurie Maguire and Emma Smith. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-470-65850-5 (hardback : alk. paper) – ISBN 978-0-470-65851-2 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 – Criticism and interpretation. I. Smith, Emma (Emma Josephine) II. Title. III. Title: Thirty great myths about Shakespeare. PR2976.M36 2013 822.3 3 – dc23 2012026659 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Set in 10/12pt Sabon by Laserwords Private Limited, Chennai, India 1 2013 CONTENTS Introduction 1 Myth 1 Shakespeare was the most popular writer of his time 6 Myth 2 Shakespeare was not well educated 11 Myth 3 Shakespeare’s plays should be performed in Elizabethan dress 18 Shakespeare was not interested in having his plays printed 26 Myth 5 Shakespeare never traveled 34 Myth 6 Shakespeare’s plays are politically incorrect 40 Myth 7 Shakespeare was a Catholic 47 Myth 8 Shakespeare’s plays had no scenery 54 Myth 9 Shakespeare’s tragedies are more serious than his comedies 60 Myth 10 Shakespeare hated his wife 66<