Shakespeare’s Tragic Skepticism
Shakespeare’s Tragic Skepticism by Millicent Bell, published by Yale University Press in January 2002, offers an insightful exploration into the motivations behind some of Shakespeare’s most complex characters. This first edition spans 283 pages and is presented in English. Bell examines the philosophical underpinnings of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies, addressing the notable absence of clear motivations for characters such as Hamlet, King Lear, and Othello, and argues that these gaps are integral to understanding Shakespeare’s perspective on doubt and uncertainty.
In this work, readers will find a thorough analysis of how Shakespeare’s context—marked by social, political, and religious upheaval—shapes his portrayal of existential skepticism. Bell draws parallels between Shakespeare and his contemporary Montaigne, emphasizing the playwright’s focus on the unknowability of the human experience. By delving into the major tragedies, the book reveals how the tumultuous conditions of Shakespeare’s time influenced his characters and their actions, ultimately highlighting a persistent philosophical skepticism that permeates his masterpieces.
Official synopsis Publisher
Readers of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies have long noted the absence of readily explainable motivations for some of Shakespeare’s greatest characters: why does Hamlet delay his revenge for so long? Why does King Lear choose to renounce his power? Why is Othello so vulnerable to Iago’s malice? But while many critics have chosen to overlook these omissions or explain them away, Millicent Bell demonstrates that they are essential elements of Shakespeare’s philosophy of doubt. Examining the major tragedies, Millicent Bell reveals the persistent strain of philosophical skepticism. Like his contemporary, Montaigne, Shakespeare repeatedly calls attention to the essential unknowability of our world.
In a period of social, political, and religious upheaval, uncertainty hovered over matters great and small–the succession of the crown, the death of loved ones from plague, the failure of a harvest. Tumultuous social conditions raised ultimate questions for Shakespeare, Bell argues, and ultimately provoked in him a skepticism which casts shadows of existential doubt over his greatest masterpieces.
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