Shakespeare's Courtly Mirror: Reflexivity and Prudence in All's Well that Ends WellUniversity of Delaware Press, 1993 - 314 pages "A leading premise of Haley's book is that modern psychological constructs are inadequate for understanding the courtly humanism dramatized by Shakespeare down to 1604. Renaissance culture knows nothing of the bourgeois subject of Locke, Freud, and Lacan. Shakespeare defines aristocratic identity in epic terms and presents not an autonomous individual but a hero whose persona is determined publicly in the "courtly mirror." That exemplary mirror, from Henry IV to Measure for Measure, reflects the heroic actions of rulers and courtiers. The historical self-awareness of Henry, Hal, and Brutus assumes a more contemporary aspect in the courtly self-consciousness of Hamlet, Duke Vincentio, and the three main characters of All's Well That Ends Well: Bertram, Helena, the King." "The "reflexivity" in the title does not indicate the self-referentiality of language, nor does it refer to the traditional paradigm of consciousness implying stable self-knowledge. Courtly reflexivity is oriented toward praxis rather than introspection. Before taking action, the courtier or cortigiana - Helena is a good example - knows only that (s)he is not what (s)he is. The courtier's deliberation is guided by a reflexive, self-regulating prudence that is usually identified with honor or love. In All's Well, Shakespeare contrasts this self-providence or heroic prudence with Divine Providence, but he does so obliquely. While focusing exclusively upon a court which prizes worldly action, he sustains his contrast through a series of ironical allusions to Scripture." "Beginning with a prologue on the problems raised by structural and theatrical interpretations of Bertram's role, Haley goes on to introduce his concept of reflexivity by way of an exchange with the new literary historicism. Chapters 1 to 3 follow the courtly debate over providence and honor, through Helena's triumph in act 2 to Bertram's deserting her. The collapse of her providential design coincides with the crisis of the sick King's honor - a crisis which Shakespeare describes alchemically, implying that alchemy, understood as reflexive chemistry, offers another mirror of the courtier's self-providence." "Chapter 4, the center of the book, brings together historical providence and Boccaccian prudence (avvedimento) in the figure of Ahab, with whom Shakespeare compares both Bertram and the Hal of Henry V. Chapters 5 to 7 pursue Shakespeare's ironic parallel between biblical Providence and courtly prudence, examining specific scenes of self-judgment and self-betrayal in the Henriad and Measure for Measure, as well as in All's Well."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved |
From inside the book
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Page 10
... virtue ( arete , virtù ) . As Aristotle says , prudence is a condition , not an object of knowledge . " It is thought to be the mark of a man of practical wisdom [ phronesis ] to be able to deliberate well ... about what sorts of things ...
... virtue ( arete , virtù ) . As Aristotle says , prudence is a condition , not an object of knowledge . " It is thought to be the mark of a man of practical wisdom [ phronesis ] to be able to deliberate well ... about what sorts of things ...
Page 11
... virtue lies beyond the scope of Shakespeare's political imagination . For him , and even for Bacon , Machia- velli's " historical processes " are as yet indistinct . Historical providence , like astrology or Paracelsian alchemy ...
... virtue lies beyond the scope of Shakespeare's political imagination . For him , and even for Bacon , Machia- velli's " historical processes " are as yet indistinct . Historical providence , like astrology or Paracelsian alchemy ...
Page 18
... virtues of the court . All told , Shakespeare is less intent on defining Bertram's characteristic limitations than on ... virtue and honor and providence that dominates this courtly play . If Shakespeare , in writing All's Well , had ...
... virtues of the court . All told , Shakespeare is less intent on defining Bertram's characteristic limitations than on ... virtue and honor and providence that dominates this courtly play . If Shakespeare , in writing All's Well , had ...
Page 19
... virtue and nobility . . . . [ Helena claims ] desert for virtue , [ whereas Bertram , in his mother's words , ] ' corrupts a well - derived nature . ' . . . In Helena and Bertram , the true and false nobility are in contest . Helena ...
... virtue and nobility . . . . [ Helena claims ] desert for virtue , [ whereas Bertram , in his mother's words , ] ' corrupts a well - derived nature . ' . . . In Helena and Bertram , the true and false nobility are in contest . Helena ...
Page 20
... virtue that makes him noble - his prerogative of self - determination . That , rather than some erotic prize , is what is at stake in the Menandrine conflict between generations , and that is what the young man desperately defends when ...
... virtue that makes him noble - his prerogative of self - determination . That , rather than some erotic prize , is what is at stake in the Menandrine conflict between generations , and that is what the young man desperately defends when ...
Contents
17 | |
24 | |
32 | |
Vile Misprision | 39 |
By Reflection | 44 |
Providence | 52 |
Honor and Alchemy | 58 |
An Equivocal Companion | 64 |
Merely Our Own Traitors | 155 |
SelfBetrayal and Shame | 166 |
Reflexivity or Revenge? | 178 |
The Clown | 185 |
One Flesh | 191 |
Clown versus Court | 196 |
Wisdom and Foolish Words | 206 |
The Courtly Mirror | 216 |
The Fines the Crown | 70 |
The Luckiest Stars in Heaven | 76 |
Helenas Love | 87 |
Inspired Merit | 97 |
Eros versus Providence | 107 |
Too Dear for My Possessing | 113 |
Shakespeare and the Book of Kings | 123 |
Ahab | 134 |
The Happy Few | 144 |
The Tinct and Multiplying Medicine | 224 |
Doubly Won | 237 |
All Yet Seems Well | 247 |
The Date of Alls Well | 254 |
Notes | 258 |
297 | |
305 | |
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Common terms and phrases
action Ahab Ahab's alchemical alchemical opus All's allusion ambiguous Angelo aristocratic audience Bertram Bertram's heroic Bertram's honor biblical Boccaccio Boccaccio's book of Kings chapter characters Clown comedy Countess court courtier courtly mirror critics death Decameron Deuteronomists dialogue Diana Divine Providence Dowden dramatic Duke Elijah epic erotic fate father final scene fool Giletta Hal's Hamlet hath heaven Helena hero hero's heroic prudence heroine's humanistic Hunter husband ideal irony King King's knave Lafew Lavatch Lord marriage means Measure for Measure melancholy Mercurius metaphor miracle moral nature noble nobleman Paracelsian Paracelsus Parolles peripeteia person play play's playwright plot poet prima materia prince Problem Comedies prophecy prophet providential judgment prudential psychological reflection reflexivity Renaissance ring role Rossillion says seems self-transcendence sexual Shakespeare shame soliloquy Sonnets speech thee theme thinks thou transcendence University Press Vincentio virgin virtue wife wisdom words worldly young