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| In this illuminating study Matt Simpson discusses
the importance of honour and ritual in the lives of the characters, their need to be seen to be doing what is deemed right and virtuous, but which sometimes causes them to do wrong things for what they think are the right reasons.
At the same time he asks us to guard against wanting to interpret the play too readily as if it were a realist text by emphasising its structural features, its patterning of parallels and contrasts, and the skill with which Shakespeare
manipulates audience expectations. Ultimately he sees the play to be about redemption and renewal.
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| Matt
Simpson is a poet and critic. His critical essays have
recently been published by Shoestring Press. He lives in Liverpool
where he was born. |
| Other titles in this series that might
be of interest |
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| About the Student Guide Literary Series |
| The Times Educational Supplement:
"The style of [this series] has a pressure of
meaning behind it. Students should learn from that...If art
is about selection, perception and taste, then this is it." |
