'Imaginary puissance': Shakespearean theater and the law of agency in Henry V, Twelfth Night and Measure for Measure

Erica Sheen

'Imaginary puissance': Shakespearean theater and the law of agency in Henry V, Twelfth Night and Measure for Measure

English and Related Literature

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This article considers the presentation of principles of legal and theatrical agency in Henry V, Twelfth Night and Measure for Measure. It argues that the treatment of these ideas in plays written for performance at the new Globe from 1598/9 to 1603 goes beyond the framework of contemporary law, and that in doing so it articulates a structural transformation of the status of the professional player; arising from that, a qualitative transformation of the terms on which the Chamberlain's/King's Men presented the experience of theater to their audiences, and of the political values associated with that experience.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	316-329
Number of pages	14
Journal	Shakespeare Survey
Volume	66
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 2013

Keywords

Shakespeare
Henry V
Twelfth Night
Measure for Measure
legal and theatrical agency
the institution of theater
law and literature

Cite this

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title = "'Imaginary puissance': Shakespearean theater and the law of agency in Henry V, Twelfth Night and Measure for Measure",

abstract = "This article considers the presentation of principles of legal and theatrical agency in Henry V, Twelfth Night and Measure for Measure. It argues that the treatment of these ideas in plays written for performance at the new Globe from 1598/9 to 1603 goes beyond the framework of contemporary law, and that in doing so it articulates a structural transformation of the status of the professional player; arising from that, a qualitative transformation of the terms on which the Chamberlain's/King's Men presented the experience of theater to their audiences, and of the political values associated with that experience.",

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issn = "0080-9152",

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AB - This article considers the presentation of principles of legal and theatrical agency in Henry V, Twelfth Night and Measure for Measure. It argues that the treatment of these ideas in plays written for performance at the new Globe from 1598/9 to 1603 goes beyond the framework of contemporary law, and that in doing so it articulates a structural transformation of the status of the professional player; arising from that, a qualitative transformation of the terms on which the Chamberlain's/King's Men presented the experience of theater to their audiences, and of the political values associated with that experience.

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KW - Measure for Measure

KW - legal and theatrical agency

KW - the institution of theater

KW - law and literature

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JO - Shakespeare Survey

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