Shakespeare and the Bible - (Vol. 1 & 2)

Author: Liang Gong, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-01
Features: Various methods are adopted according to the needs of the content. The first part employs a historical approach, introducing many background materials. On one hand, it provides readers with necessary knowledge preparation; on the other hand, it lays a foundation for many subsequent analyses and arguments. In the introduction to Shakespeare himself, it explains how Renaissance humanism and Christian spirit jointly nurtured this great writer, establishing the theoretical foundation of the entire book. The second and third parts are the core of this book, also occupying the most space. These two parts primarily use empirical and comparative methods to systematically organize the connections between Shakespeare's plays and the Bible. It is commendable that the editor not only focuses on the similarities between the two but also pays attention to their differences. Therefore, while listing how Shakespeare utilizes biblical resources, it combines analysis and argumentation to distinguish their similarities and differences, highlighting Shakespeare's characteristics in quoting, adapting, or creatively borrowing from the Bible, thereby avoiding certain biases of Western scholars who tend to religiousize Shakespeare. These two parts also incorporate a large amount of international research, but as the preface of the book states, the editor has conducted a "localization" of it. The fourth part primarily adopts an aesthetic approach, while also combining empirical and historical methods. The integration of these three approaches deepens the discussion and elevates it to a theoretical level, leading to further exploration (in fact, some theoretical discussions have already been presented in the second and especially the third part). This part raises many interesting and thought-provoking questions, yet they seem somewhat haphazardly listed, lacking thoroughness. This may be due to the lack of comprehensive planning.