Shakespeare and the Bible (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Liang Gong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-01
Features: Shakespeare is one of the greatest humanist writers of the Renaissance, and his 38 poetic dramas are the pinnacle of world theater history. The Bible is the primary classic of Hebrew-Christian culture and has the most translations and the largest circulation in world cultural history. Shakespeare had a close connection with the Bible during his lifetime, and many aspects of his work were influenced by it, which played a significant role in his becoming the world's foremost playwright. This book strives to stand within the current Chinese academic context of Chinese studies, delving into the two classics—the plays of Shakespeare and the Bible—with meticulous analysis, seeking truth from facts, and making contributions to the advancement of comparative literature in China in the interdisciplinary field of Shakespearean studies and biblical literature. The book is grand in scope, rich in entries, and offers detailed analyses, with numerous academic innovations, making it worth reading. Depending on the content, various methods are employed.
The first part adopts a historical approach, introducing many background materials. On one hand, it provides readers with necessary knowledge preparation; on the other hand, it lays the foundation for many subsequent analyses and arguments. The introduction to Shakespeare himself 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 and occupy 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 the similarities and differences, demonstrating that Shakespeare sometimes quotes, sometimes adapts, and sometimes creatively borrows from the Bible, avoiding certain Western scholars' tendency 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 "localized" them.
The fourth part primarily adopts an aesthetic approach while combining empirical and historical methods. The integration of these three approaches deepens the discussion and elevates it to a theoretical level, though it also raises many interesting and thought-provoking questions. However, they seem somewhat haphazard, as if the editor simply listed whatever came to mind, lacking thorough planning. This may be due to the lack of a comprehensive blueprint.