Shakespeare and the Culture of Paradox

Taylor & Francis

Peter Platt here examines Renaissance culture through the lens of paradox. Specifically, he analyzes paradoxes surrounding geography, equity law, and the acting in and witnessing of the Elizabethan-Jacobean theater itself. In showing that Shakespeare's plays create and are created by a culture of paradox, Platt offers an exciting and innovative investigation of Shakespeare's cognitive and affective power over his audience. > Exploring Shakespeare's intellectual interest in placing both characters and audiences in a state of uncertainty, mystery, and doubt, this book interrogates the use of paradox in Shakespeare's plays and in performance. By adopting this discourse-one in which opposites can co-exist and perspectives can be altered, and one that asks accepted opinions, beliefs, and truths to be reconsidered-Shakespeare used paradox to question love, gender, knowledge, and truth from multiple perspectives.\nCommitted to situating literature within the larger culture, Peter Platt.