RENAISSANCE HUMANISM IN THE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
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Abstract:
Shakespeare's drama and poetry are placed within the intellectual, cultural, and moral milieu of the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries as this essay examines how Renaissance humanism influenced his artistic output. It looks at the main characteristics of Renaissance humanism; how Shakespeare reflects those characteristics in works like Hamlet, Julius Caesar, and The Tempest; and the importance of this humanistic orientation for comprehending Shakespeare's conception of human nature, individual agency, and moral responsibility. It does this by drawing on scholarship on Renaissance humanism and Shakespearean studies. Shakespeare's works deal deeply with humanistic concepts of self-knowledge, human dignity, and moral choice, the study demonstrates, rather than just reflecting medieval theology or classical imitation.
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References:
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