With Shakespeare's Eyes: Pushkin's Creative Appropriation of Shakespeare

by O'Neil, Catherine

• ISBN13: 9780874138214
• ISBN10: 0874138213
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-06-01
• Publisher: Univ of Delaware Pr

Summary

With Shakespeare's Eyes is the first monograph to focus exclusively on the relationship between the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin and Shakespeare. Taking into account contemporary perceptions of Shakespeare in print and on the Russian stage, O'Neil examines all levels of poetic influence of Shakespeare on Pushkin. In addition to untangling the central presence of Shakespeare in Pushkin's historical tragedy Boris Godunov, O'Neil examines Shakespeare's influence in many other works by Pushkin, an influence that ranges from the textual to the conceptual. The Shakespeare plays addressed most closely in this book are Othello, Measure for Measure, and Julius Caesar, all of which interact in a dynamic way with Pushkin's creative development. This book will help English readers understand better what it means to say Pushkin is "the Shakespeare of Russia."

Author Biography

Catherine O'Neil, Assistant Professor of Russian at the University of Denver

Table of Contents

Preface: Why Shakespeare?	9	(4)
Acknowledgments	13	(4)
Introduction: Pushkin and Poetic Influence	17	(11)
Ghostly Fathers and Unthrifty Sons: Shakespeare and Boris Godunov	28	(41)
The History Plays: Providential Progress or Vicious Circle?	33	(4)
Julius Caesar and Boris Godunov	37	(7)
The Father-Son Theme in Shakespeare and Boris Godunov	44	(9)
The Hero Awakens: The Pretender and the Narod	53	(9)
The Narod and Samozvanchestvo (Pretenderhood) in Pushkin and Shakespeare	62	(7)
Of Monarchs and Mercy: Measure for Measure in Pushkin's Works	69	(34)
Measure for Measure and Andzhelo	71	(10)
The Theme of Mercy	81	(4)
Enter the Heroine: Pushkin's Portrayal of Isabella	85	(7)
The Measure for Measure Subtext in Poltava and The Captain's Daughter	92	(4)
Pushkin and ``Problem Comedies''	96	(2)
The Theme of Law in Pushkin	98	(5)
Pushkin and Othello	103	(35)
Othello on Stage in Europe and Russia	105	(5)
Gannibal: From Court Blackamoor to Russian Nobleman	110	(4)
The Moor of Peter the Great	114	(6)
Poltava	120	(11)
Pushkin and Desdemona	131	(4)
Not Jealous by Nature	135	(3)
Conclusion: Patterns in Pushkin and Shakespeare	138	(12)
Shakespeare's ``Fairly Weak Poem'': Count Nulin and The Rape of Lucrece	139	(3)
Shakespeare's Charming Creations: Romeo, Juliet, and the Cavalier Mercutio	142	(1)
Shakespeare and Folklore: Rusalka	143	(3)
Loving Fathers and Willful Maids: Pushkin's Shakespearean Heroines	146	(4)
Notes	150	(26)
Bibliography	176	(9)
Index	185