Jill Line - Shakespeare and the Fire of Love read online ebook DJV, DOC
9780856832307 English 0856832308 "Words spoken by Berowne in Love's Labour's Lost, embody all the passions of the early stages of love but, as so often with Shakespeare, he seems to be saying something more. What doctrine does Shakespeare derive from women's eyes? What is the true Promethean fire?" "The answers, Jill Line explains, lie in the Christian-Platonic philosophy of love in which all Shakespeare's plays and poems have their genesis. The philosopher of this tradition whose ideas Shakespeare most clearly reflects was the scholar-priest, Marsilio Ficino, who lived in 15th century Florence. He drew together the strands of many ancient teachings, and having found the same truths in Christianity, formulated a philosophy that is generally referred to today as Christian-Platonism."--BOOK JACKET., 'From women's eyes this doctrine I derive: They are the ground, the books, the academes, From whence doth spring the true Promethean fire'These lines, spoken by Berowne in Love's Labour's Lost, embody all the passions of the early stages of love but, as so often with Shakespeare, he seems to be hinting at something more. What is the doctrine he derives from women's eyes? What is it women's eyes convey? What is the true Promethean fire?The answers to these questions lie in the Christian-Platonic philosophy of love which permeates all Shakespeare's plays and poems. Although Christian-Platonism, or the new learning as it was known in his time, has long been associated with the poetry of many of his contemporaries, its relationship to Shakespeare's work is not so well known. This perennial philosophy has come down through a long line of teachers, including Hermes Trismegistus, Pythagoras, Plato and Plotinus. The philosopher of this tradition, whom Shakespeare most clearly reflects, was the scholar-priest Marsilio Ficino, who lived in Florence a hundred years before him. It was he who drew together the strands of many teachings and, having found the same truths in Christianity, formulated a philosophy that is generally referred to today as Christian-Platonism.Most of the comedies and some of the sonnets are explained in the light of this philosophy as they show most clearly the concepts of Platonic love. The tragedies, some of the Roman plays and Shakespeare's last plays are used to show how he expanded on these ideas throughout his life, but only passing reference is made to the histories.Most Shakespearean criticism of recent years has been set firmly in the historical, social and political context of our contemporary world. This book reveals the philosophy which enabled Shakespeare to write of such universal themes as the harmony and disharmony between nations and princes, and the inner conflicts of mind and soul in men and women whose natures and desires are not confined to any particular age. It will appeal to theatregoers and students, especially those seeking to understand inner meaning of his plays and poems., Academics and lay people curious to learn more about the philosophies at the root of William Shakespeare's work will discover a new theory on his intent in this critical analysis. Taking the position that the Christian-Platonic philosophy of love is the permeating philosophy in Shakespeare's work, this analysis links the commentaries of scholar-priest Marsilio Ficino and other key Renaissance writings to specific speeches and sonnets penned by Shakespeare to support its argument. The analysis further claims that it was this pervading Christian-Platonic philosophy, originally expounded by Pythagoras, Plato, and Plotinus, that enabled Shakespeare to write with clarity about the universal themes of harmony and disharmony between nations and princes, and the internal conflicts of the human mind and soul. In addition, classical references and images identify the true Promethean fireromantic attraction., This book reveals the philosophy which enabled Shakespeare to write of such universal themes as the harmony and disharmony between nations and princes, and the inner conflicts of mind and soul in men and women whose natures and desires are not confined to any particular age.
9780856832307 English 0856832308 "Words spoken by Berowne in Love's Labour's Lost, embody all the passions of the early stages of love but, as so often with Shakespeare, he seems to be saying something more. What doctrine does Shakespeare derive from women's eyes? What is the true Promethean fire?" "The answers, Jill Line explains, lie in the Christian-Platonic philosophy of love in which all Shakespeare's plays and poems have their genesis. The philosopher of this tradition whose ideas Shakespeare most clearly reflects was the scholar-priest, Marsilio Ficino, who lived in 15th century Florence. He drew together the strands of many ancient teachings, and having found the same truths in Christianity, formulated a philosophy that is generally referred to today as Christian-Platonism."--BOOK JACKET., 'From women's eyes this doctrine I derive: They are the ground, the books, the academes, From whence doth spring the true Promethean fire'These lines, spoken by Berowne in Love's Labour's Lost, embody all the passions of the early stages of love but, as so often with Shakespeare, he seems to be hinting at something more. What is the doctrine he derives from women's eyes? What is it women's eyes convey? What is the true Promethean fire?The answers to these questions lie in the Christian-Platonic philosophy of love which permeates all Shakespeare's plays and poems. Although Christian-Platonism, or the new learning as it was known in his time, has long been associated with the poetry of many of his contemporaries, its relationship to Shakespeare's work is not so well known. This perennial philosophy has come down through a long line of teachers, including Hermes Trismegistus, Pythagoras, Plato and Plotinus. The philosopher of this tradition, whom Shakespeare most clearly reflects, was the scholar-priest Marsilio Ficino, who lived in Florence a hundred years before him. It was he who drew together the strands of many teachings and, having found the same truths in Christianity, formulated a philosophy that is generally referred to today as Christian-Platonism.Most of the comedies and some of the sonnets are explained in the light of this philosophy as they show most clearly the concepts of Platonic love. The tragedies, some of the Roman plays and Shakespeare's last plays are used to show how he expanded on these ideas throughout his life, but only passing reference is made to the histories.Most Shakespearean criticism of recent years has been set firmly in the historical, social and political context of our contemporary world. This book reveals the philosophy which enabled Shakespeare to write of such universal themes as the harmony and disharmony between nations and princes, and the inner conflicts of mind and soul in men and women whose natures and desires are not confined to any particular age. It will appeal to theatregoers and students, especially those seeking to understand inner meaning of his plays and poems., Academics and lay people curious to learn more about the philosophies at the root of William Shakespeare's work will discover a new theory on his intent in this critical analysis. Taking the position that the Christian-Platonic philosophy of love is the permeating philosophy in Shakespeare's work, this analysis links the commentaries of scholar-priest Marsilio Ficino and other key Renaissance writings to specific speeches and sonnets penned by Shakespeare to support its argument. The analysis further claims that it was this pervading Christian-Platonic philosophy, originally expounded by Pythagoras, Plato, and Plotinus, that enabled Shakespeare to write with clarity about the universal themes of harmony and disharmony between nations and princes, and the internal conflicts of the human mind and soul. In addition, classical references and images identify the true Promethean fireromantic attraction., This book reveals the philosophy which enabled Shakespeare to write of such universal themes as the harmony and disharmony between nations and princes, and the inner conflicts of mind and soul in men and women whose natures and desires are not confined to any particular age.