The Meaning of Shakespeare, Volume 1 (Phoenix Books) [Paperback]

Harold C. Goddard (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0226300412 | ISBN-13: 978-0226300412 | Publication Date: April 24, 1951

In two magnificent and authoritative volumes, Harold C. Goddard takes readers on a tour through the works of William Shakespeare, celebrating his incomparable plays and unsurpassed literary genius.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

In two magnificent and authoritative volumes, Harold C. Goddard takes readers on a tour through the works of William Shakespeare, celebrating his incomparable plays and unsurpassed literary genius.

About the Author

Harold C. Goddard (1878-1950) was the head of the English Department at Swarthmore College from 1909 to 1946.

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press (April 24, 1951)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226300412
• ISBN-13: 978-0226300412
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,431 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Shakespeare Criticism, May 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Meaning of Shakespeare, Volume 1 (Phoenix Books) (Paperback)

Other writers about Shakespeare have tried to equal Goddard's labor of love, most recently Harold Bloom's Shakespeare: The Art of the Human. None come close, although Jan Kott's Shakespeare Our Contemporary is also great, as is Allan Bloom's Shakespeare's Politics. In fact, Goddard makes Harold Bloom's effort look like it was written by a boy.

Goddard writes thoughtful, highly readable, analytic essays about each of the plays. His interpretations are the most original, but well-argued I've ever seen. Yet they frequently deviate from traditional interpretations. For example, Goddard makes a case against the much-loved, jingoistic interpretation of Henry V; Goddard reads much darker implications. In his essay about Romeo and Juliet, Goddard argues that the play is not about star-crossed lovers, but about Romeo's inability to match Juliet's love, which is the real source of tragedy.

It's hard to disagree once you've read Goddard's interpretations, but even when you do, you'll be richer for the experience.

For those of you interested in "old-fashioned" literary criticism, when writers considered it their duty, not to obscure the text or to deconstruct it, but to make difficult works more accessible, than this is for you. This is a purchase you will never regret.

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the Best, January 3, 2004

By 

T. Hooper "thdizzy" (Osaka, Japan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Meaning of Shakespeare, Volume 1 (Phoenix Books) (Paperback)

This first volume covers Shakespeare up to Hamlet. For later plays, see volume two. In my opinion, Goddard is by far the best critic of Shakespeare's plays. He far outranks Bloom, who seems to be the popular Shakespeare critic these days. Goddard gets to the heart of the characters and stories without being sidetracked by modern ideologies and -isms. He doesn't try to distort the plays for something they are not.

I particularly love the comedies of Shakespeare and Goddard gives them the attention they deserve that other critics don't. His insight into these lighter works are quite interesting. If you are more interested in Shakespeare's tragedies rather than his comedies or histories, you should get volume two instead, however I recommend getting both.

As for the writing style, it is very enjoyable and not at all scholarly or incomprehensible. Actually I've read both volumes over and over, and I consider them to be a few of the best books in my library. They are a must have for Shakespeare fans.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wisdom Literature, July 8, 2000

By 

Douglas A. Storm (Glen Carbon, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Meaning of Shakespeare, Volume 1 (Phoenix Books) (Paperback)

It can be put quite simply--this book must be considered within the tradition of Wisdom Literature. It stands on it's own apart from the plays it interprets and analyses. It is a pleasure and joy to read on its own merits. Goddard speaks and you must listen. You may hold contrary opinions about certain plays and characters, but you will not disagree with him. His essays are full of his 40 odd years of teaching but his voice is that of an intimate, not one of the classroom. Buy both volumes and keep them on your bedside table.