Shakespeare's Bawdy
📘 About This Book
This work covers the bawdiness in Shakespeare's plays. It includes an extensive glossary and is a comprehensive directory of allusion and double-meanings, many of which have been entirely lost to common usage.
📖 Summary
Eric Partridge's book, published in 2001 and spanning 312 pages, serves as an essential exploration of the vibrant, risqué undercurrents present throughout the dramatic works of William Shakespeare. While modern readers and audiences often approach Elizabethan and Jacobean drama with a sense of elevated reverence, Shakespeare wrote for a diverse, rowdy audience that thoroughly appreciated double-meanings, sexual innuendos, and earthy humor. Partridge addresses this rich realm of dramatic language by examining the bawdiness woven into the plots, character interactions, and witty banter of the plays. At the heart of the book is a comprehensive directory and extensive glossary that decodes linguistic allusions which have been entirely lost to common modern usage. Words and phrases that seem innocent to the contemporary ear are carefully unpacked to reveal their original, often delightfully crude or suggestive connotations. Through meticulous lexicographical analysis, Partridge demonstrates that the bawdiness in Shakespeare's plays is not merely crude filler, but a vital component of character development, social commentary, and comedic relief. The text illuminates how lower-class characters, foolish nobles, and sharp-tongued heroines alike employ sexual puns to subvert authority, express frustration, or forge intimate connections with the audience. By bridging the historical gap between the sixteenth century and the present day, the book restores a layer of comedic appreciation that modern educational systems frequently overlook. Readers are guided through the labyrinth of Renaissance slang, sexual folklore, and verbal fencing matches that define the playwright's dramatic achievements. Ultimately, this work functions as an indispensable companion for anyone seeking a fuller, more authentic understanding of Shakespearean drama, proving that the high art of the English language and its most earthy elements are inextricably linked.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Provides a thorough directory of lost Elizabethan slang and double-meanings
Deepens the reader's comprehension of Shakespearean dramatic comedy
Features an extensive glossary for easy reference
Uncovers the earthy and humorous layers often missed in modern study
⚠️ Cons
May require frequent consultation of the glossary to follow the analysis
Focuses heavily on linguistic breakdown rather than narrative critique
❓ FAQ
What is the main focus of Shakespeare's Bawdy? +
The book focuses on the bawdiness, double-meanings, and sexual innuendos present in Shakespeare's plays.
Who is the author of this work? +
The book was written by Eric Partridge.
When was this edition published? +
This edition was published in 2001.
How many pages does the book contain? +
The book contains 312 pages.
Does the book include a reference section? +
Yes, it includes an extensive glossary and a comprehensive directory of allusions.
