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  • Open Daily: 10am - 10pm
    Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm

    3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
    612-822-4611

Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm
3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
612-822-4611
Shakespearean Recognitions: Philosophies of the Post-Tragic

Shakespearean Recognitions: Philosophies of the Post-Tragic

Smith, Matthew J.

Hardcover

Series: Routledge Studies in Shakespeare

Literary CriticismShakespeare

PREORDER - Expected ship date November 9, 2026

ISBN10: 1041337817
ISBN13: 9781041337812
Publisher: Routledge
Published: Nov 9 2026
Pages: 288
Language: English

Shakespearean Recognitions: Philosophies of the Post-Tragic explores Shakespeare's unique contribution to the history of recognition as both a narrative trope and a moral event. Recognition, central to classical anagnorisis and modern moral philosophy, also has deep roots in medieval Christian devotion, where salvation often hinged on reciprocal recognition with God. Shakespeare inherited this medieval theater of recognition, a cultural and dramaturgical framework that infused classical discovery scenes with new spiritual and social dimensions. This book argues that Shakespeare's plays dramatize the aporia of mutual recognition--a moment of moral reckoning that resonates across classical poetics, medieval devotion, and modern philosophy. Scenes of reunion, discovery, and loss in Shakespeare's works are not merely poetic devices but sites of profound moral and philosophical inquiry. By engaging with thinkers like Hobbes, Hegel, Levinas, and Cavell, the book demonstrates how Shakespeare's recognition scenes interrogate freedom, forgiveness, and the struggle for moral clarity. Shakespearean Recognitions bridges the gap between poetic and philosophical theories of recognition, showing how early modern theater transformed classical anagnorisis into a powerful exploration of human freedom and moral responsibility. This study reveals Shakespeare's enduring relevance to debates about identity, morality, and the human condition.

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