Overview

In this lively study, Kerrigan celebrates both Hamlet's perfection, the character's creation of new ideals out of an inheritance of disillusionment, and Hamlet's perfection, the play's brilliance as Shakespeare's greatest tragedy. Kerrigan's approach reflects his interests in literary formalism, historical scholarship, intellectual history, and psychoanalysis. In an overview of the history of Hamlet criticism, Kerrigan argues that recent critics have done little or nothing to elucidate the play, and he suggests ways in which the abandoned tradition of Hamlet commentary might still inspire fruitful approaches to the play.

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9780801854682

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Kerrigan is a consummate scholar. He shows the historical currents within which 'Hamlet 'was created and has lived until the present moment. There are flashes of brilliance throughout the book, and a great deal of original and provocative dialogue with other readings of the play--including a powerful thesis about 'Hamlet''s' 'relation to the Senecan tradition. The writing is energetic, accessible, readable, and refreshingly free of the codified terminology of so much contemporary criticism. --Murray M. Schwartz, The Claremont Graduate School Kerrigan's reading of the tradition is illuminating, subtle, informed, and informative, and he uses it to establish his reading of the play, working within the tradition but extending it to hitherto unseen and insightful ways. --'Philosophy and Literature'

Kerrigan's reading of the tradition is illuminating, subtle, informed, and informative, and he uses it to establish his reading of the play, working within the tradition but extending it to hitherto unseen and insightful ways. * Philosophy and Literature *

Kerrigan's reading of the tradition is illuminating, subtle, informed, and informative, and he uses it to establish his reading of the play, working within the tradition but extending it to hitherto unseen and insightful ways. Philosophy and Literature

Author Information

William Kerrigan is professor of English at the University of Massachusetts. His books include The Prophetic Milton and The Sacred Complex.

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