Godless Shakespeare (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780826490414)

Godless Shakespeare is the first book to discuss Shakespeare's plays from an atheist perspective. Although it is clear that Shakespeare engaged with and deployed much of his culture's broadly religious interests - his language is shot through with biblical quotations, priestly sermonizing and Christian imagery - Mallin argues that there is a profound absence of or hostility to God in his plays.

Following Dante's three part structure for The Divine Comedy - Hell represents expressions of religious faith in Shakespeare's plays, Purgatory sets out more sceptical positions, and Heaven shows articulations of godlessness - Mallin traces a spiritual ascent from the unthinkingly devout to the atheistically spiritual. This polemical, vigorous account focuses on the moral and spiritual dilemmas of major characters, developing the often subtle transitions between belief, scepticism and atheism. Finally, Godless Shakespeare argues for the liberating potential of unbelief.

Author: Eric S. Mallin
ISBN-10: 0826490417
ISBN-13: 9780826490414
Publisher: Continuum
Language: English
Published: 03/23/2007
Pages: 144
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 0.70lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.38d

Review Citation(s):
Books & Culture 09/01/2008 pg. 37
Reference and Research Bk News 05/01/2008 pg. 334