Eseje o Szekspirze

Abstract

The book examines the reception of Shakespeare and his works in Poland and worldwide in the context of literature, theater, cinema, culture, history, and politics. It draws attention to the significance of national sources of his works, the sixteenth-century cult of Lucrece in Poland and in Europe, and selected aspects of Shakespeare’s presence in Poland during World War II and under the communist regime. Some space is devoted to Ira Aldridge and Helena Modrzejewska, two eminent performers, who greatly contributed to Shakespeare’s promotion in the 19th century and who built their careers upon his fame. The work also presents the question of the authorship of his works in the context of ongoing debates over centuries. The book demonstrates the poet’s relevance to contemporary cultural and socio-political issues, ranging widely across his plays and poems, and their presentations in the theater. It points toward new directions in Shakespeare’s studies while uniting human experiences in various places, spaces, and times.