The Loneliness of Shakespeare's Sonnets, or How Could/Should Shakespeare be Lonely?

TY - CHAP

T1 - The Loneliness of Shakespeare's Sonnets, or How Could/Should Shakespeare be Lonely?

AU - Kingsley-Smith, Jane

PY - 2022/1

Y1 - 2022/1

N2 - This essay explores the changing historical and cultural meanings of loneliness as generated through the Sonnets at three key historical moments: during the 'cult of solitude' in the late 16th C; the highpoint of biographical readings of the Sonnets in the 19th C; and the reinterpretation of the Sonnets as objects of solace during the Covid 19 pandemic in 2020-22. It argues that loneliness did exist as a concept before the 18th Century, but that the idea of Shakespeare's loneliness is a highly charged and culturally sensitive one, as mediated by the Sonnets. It also explores pandemic-related modes of performing the Sonnets and how these have changed their meaning.

AB - This essay explores the changing historical and cultural meanings of loneliness as generated through the Sonnets at three key historical moments: during the 'cult of solitude' in the late 16th C; the highpoint of biographical readings of the Sonnets in the 19th C; and the reinterpretation of the Sonnets as objects of solace during the Covid 19 pandemic in 2020-22. It argues that loneliness did exist as a concept before the 18th Century, but that the idea of Shakespeare's loneliness is a highly charged and culturally sensitive one, as mediated by the Sonnets. It also explores pandemic-related modes of performing the Sonnets and how these have changed their meaning.

M3 - Chapter

T3 - Early Modern Literature in History

BT - Writing Early Modern Loneliness

A2 - Yip, Hannah

A2 - Thomas, Clifton

PB - Palgrave Macmillan

CY - London

ER -