Peter Lang Gmbh, Internationaler Verlag Der Wissenschaften Shakespeare, the Orient, and the Critics

Previous criticism has not adequately discussed oriental aspects of the content of Shakespearean drama. In addition to his portrayal of oriental figures (such as Cleopatra, Othello, and Shylock) and his use of literary genres and motifs that have roots in oriental tradition (such as that of the tragic romance in Romeo and Juliet, there are certain key elements in Shakespeare’s thought and outlook that can only be properly understood within the larger contribution of the oriental legacy. This legacy has clear relevance not only to the exemplary fate of the lovers in Romeo and Juliet, but also to the destinies of such major Shakespearean heroes as Hamlet and Lear. Shakespeare, the Orient, and the Critics investigates the boundaries of oriental framework within works such as Hamlet, King Lear, and The Tempest. Stylistically, at the heart of Shakespeare’s orientalism are two long-recognized features of his dramatic art: his predilection for reversing stereotypes and his sympathy and identification with the alien and the «other.» This can be most clearly seen in the love tragedies of Othello and Anthony and Cleopatra as well as the romantic comedy of The Merchant of Venice. Ultimately, the philosophic underpinning of such works is a special expression of Renaissance humanism that transcends the boundaries of class, race, and culture. About the Author Abdulla Al-Dabbagh is Professor of English Literature at the United Arab Emirates University. He holds a B.A. from Wesleyan University, an M.Litt. from Cambridge University, and a Ph.D. from Essex University. He has taught English, American, and world literatures, literary criticism, comparative literature, and translation at universities in Iraq, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates. His current research interests include literary theory and world literature, in addition to English literature, particularly the works of Shakespeare.