LEADER 03386nam 2200673Ia 450 001 9910971692003321 005 20200520144314.0 010 $a9780791484920 010 $a0791484920 010 $a9781423739913 010 $a1423739914 035 $a(CKB)1000000000458381 035 $a(OCoLC)62751274 035 $a(CaPaEBR)ebrary10594832 035 $a(SSID)ssj0000149739 035 $a(PQKBManifestationID)11150507 035 $a(PQKBTitleCode)TC0000149739 035 $a(PQKBWorkID)10238951 035 $a(PQKB)10173450 035 $a(MiAaPQ)EBC3408505 035 $a(OCoLC)62365158 035 $a(MdBmJHUP)muse6161 035 $a(Au-PeEL)EBL3408505 035 $a(CaPaEBR)ebr10594832 035 $a(DE-B1597)682035 035 $a(DE-B1597)9780791484920 035 $a(Perlego)2672973 035 $a(EXLCZ)991000000000458381 100 $a20030807d2004 ub 0 101 0 $aeng 135 $aurcn||||||||| 181 $ctxt 182 $cc 183 $acr 200 10$aEternal bonds, true contracts $elaw and nature in Shakespeare's problem plays /$fA.G. Harmon 205 $a1st ed. 210 $aAlbany $cState University of New York Press$dc2004 215 $a1 online resource (204 p.) 300 $aBibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph 311 08$a9780791461174 311 08$a0791461173 320 $aIncludes bibliographical references (p. 185-190) and index. 327 $tFront Matter -- $tContents -- $tAcknowledgments -- $tThe Semblance of Virtue -- $tThings Seen and Unseen -- $tPerfection in Reversion -- $tMatching Meanings -- $tLawful Title -- $tNature?s Double Name -- $tNotes -- $tWorks Cited -- $tIndex 330 $aIn Eternal Bonds, True Contracts, A. G. Harmon closely analyzes Shakespeare's concentrated use of the law and its instruments in what have often been referred to as the problem plays: Measure for Measure, Troilus and Cressida, The Merchant of Venice, and All's Well That Ends Well. Contracts, bonds, sureties, wills?all ensure a changed relationship between parties, and in Shakespeare the terms are nearly always reserved for use in the contexts of marriage and fellowship. Harmon explores the theory and practice of contractual obligations in Renaissance England, especially those involving marriage and property, in order to identify contractual elements and their formation, execution, and breach in the plays. Using both legal and literary resources, Harmon reveals the larger significance of these contractual concepts by illustrating how Shakespeare develops them both dramatically and thematically. Harmon's study ultimately enables the reader to perceive not only these plays but also all of Shakespeare's writing?including his poetry?as integral with, and implicated in, the proliferating legalism that was helping to define early modern English culture. 606 $aTragicomedy$xHistory and criticism 606 $aNature in literature 606 $aLaw in literature 615 0$aTragicomedy$xHistory and criticism. 615 0$aNature in literature. 615 0$aLaw in literature. 676 $a822.3/3 700 $aHarmon$b A. G.$f1962-$01812897 801 0$bMiAaPQ 801 1$bMiAaPQ 801 2$bMiAaPQ 906 $aBOOK 912 $a9910971692003321 996 $aEternal bonds, true contracts$94365556 997 $aUNINA