Of Philosophers and Kings : Political Philosophy in Shakespeare's Macbeth and King Lear.

Intro -- CONTENTS -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- NOTICE TO THE READER -- 1. The Political Philosopher as Dramatic Poet: Preliminary Remarks on the Study of Shakespeare -- 2. Living in a Hard Time: Politics and Philosophy in Macbeth -- Machiavelli Visits Scotland -- The Metaphysics of Macbeth -- The Natural Workings of Good and Evil -- Infections in the Casing Air -- 3. The Discovery of Nature: Politics and Philosophy in King Lear -- The Perils of Political Improvisation -- The Problem of Nature -- A King Becomes Philosophical -- A Philosopher Becomes a King -- 4. "Sweet Philosophy": Further Illustrations of Shakespeare's Portrayal of Philosophy in Relation to Political Life -- Elementary Matters in Othello -- The True Test of a Wise Poet: The Winter's Tale -- High-Minded Negligence in Measure for Measure -- Final Remarks on Shakespeare as Philosopher-Poet -- NOTES -- BIBLIOGRAPHY -- INDEX OF NAMES -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- X -- Y -- Z.

This innovative work argues that Shakespeare was as great a philosopher as he was a poet, and that his greatness as a poet derived even more from his power as a thinker than from his genius for linguistic expression.

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Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2024. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.