'I am for Other Than for Dancing Measures': Shakespeare’s Spiritual Quest in As You Like It

Authors

  • Milena Kostić

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18485/bells.2014.6.12

Keywords:

active/passive ritual drama, Mother Forest, green world, partnership model

Abstract

The critical insights of Ted Hughes (his understanding of ‘active ritual drama’ and vision of the ‘Mother Forest’), Northrop Frye (his perception of the Forest of Arden as the green world originating in the bygone Golden Age) and Riane Eisler (her recognition of the partnership model necessary for the playwright’s recreation of the mythic domain based on the matriarchal principles of equality) are combined in the paper in order to explore the spiritual quest Shakespeare embarked on in As You Like It. Special attention here is given to Melancholy Jacques, whose decision to devote himself to a solitary life in search of the causes for the existence of the hostility and rivalry between brothers reflects Shakespeare’s professional decision to dedicate himself to the resolution of this issue throughout his writing career.

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Published

2014-11-23

How to Cite

Kostić, M. (2014). ’I am for Other Than for Dancing Measures’: Shakespeare’s Spiritual Quest in As You Like It. Belgrade English Language and Literature Studies, 6(1), 231–245. https://doi.org/10.18485/bells.2014.6.12

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2014): BELLS - volume 6

Section

SHAKESPEARE: LITERARY AND CULTURAL STUDIES

License

Copyright (c) 2021 Milena Kostić

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