The Politicalization of Shakespeare

Paper Summary:

The paper reveals that in the eighteenth century, Shakespeare was only beginning to be awarded increasingly more recognition for his work, while his works were not truly appreciated until the nineteenth century. The paper goes on to show how Shakespeare also became a dramatic character in several of the adaptations of his plays in order to serve certain political goals.

From the Paper:

"Shakespeare is perhaps the most famous playwright of all time. It is hard to imagine that in the seventeenth century, Shakespeare was just another playwright alongside others such as Marlowe and Webster, to name only two. In fact, his works were not truly appreciated until the nineteenth century when "the Bard" became worshipped not only in England, but throughout Europe. In the eighteenth century, Shakespeare was beginning to be awarded increasingly more recognition for his work. However, Britain's "national poet" also became a dramatic character in several of the adaptations of his plays in order to serve certain political goals."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Branam, George C. Eighteenth-Century Adaptations of Shakespearean Tragedy. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1956.
• Dobson, Michael. The Making of the National Poet: Shakespeare, Adaptation and Authorship, 1660-1769. Oxford University Press, 1992
• Olsen Thomas G. Apolitical Shakespeare; or, the Restoration 'Coriolanus. English Literature, 1500-1900, Vol. 38, 1998.
• Scheil, Katherine. The Taste of the Town: Shakespearian Comedy and the Early Eighteenth-Century Theater. Lewisburg, PA: Bucknell University Press, 2003.

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