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Literary Criticism Shakespeare

Fathers and Sons in Shakespeare

The Debt Never Promised

by (author) Fred B. Tromly

Publisher
University of Toronto Press
Initial publish date
May 2010
Category
Shakespeare, Drama, Shakespeare
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780802099617
    Publish Date
    May 2010
    List Price
    $89.00
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781442699069
    Publish Date
    May 2010
    List Price
    $73.00
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781442699052
    Publish Date
    Dec 2010
    List Price
    $78

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Description

Some of Shakespeare's most memorable male characters, such as Hamlet, Prince Hal, and Edgar, are defined by their relationships with their fathers. In Fathers and Sons in Shakespeare, Fred B. Tromly demonstrates that these relationships are far more complicated than most critics have assumed. While Shakespearean sons often act as their fathers' steadfast defenders, they simultaneously resist paternal encroachment on their autonomy, tempering vigorous loyalty with subtle hostility.

Tromly's introductory chapters draw on both Freudian psychology and Elizabethan family history to frame the issue of filial ambivalence in Shakespeare. The following analytical chapters mine the father-son relationships in plays that span Shakespeare's entire career. The conclusion explores Shakespeare's relationship with his own father and its effect on his fictional depictions of life as a son. Through careful scrutiny of word and deed, the scholarship in Fathers and Sons in Shakespeare reveals the complex attitude Shakespeare's sons harbour towards their fathers.

About the author

Fred B. Tromly is a professor emeritus in the Department of English at Trent University.

Fred B. Tromly's profile page

Editorial Reviews

‘A solid contribution to recent studies on the early modern family and masculinities, one that in its broad-ranging clarity would enhance undergraduate and graduate libraries.’

Margaret L. Mikesell, <em>Renaissance Quarterly: vol 64:01:2011</em>