Ambivalent Macbeth

Intro; Ambivalent Macbeth; Title; Contents; Preface and Acknowledgements; Prologue: Sinners as Heroes; 1: Contexts of Ambiguity: Text, Sources, History; 2: "Fair is foul and foul is fair": The Radical Ambivalence of Macbeth; 3: "Nothing is but what is not": Emotional Worlds of Characters in Macbeth; 4: "The seeds of time" and the Macbeths; 5: "Palter with us in a double sense": Leading Ideas -- Temptation, Equivocation, Evil; 6: "This is the very painting of your fear": Imagery and the Emotional World of Macbeth; 7: Macbeth on Stage and Screen; Bibliography; Index; About the author;Macbeth is often read in a singular fashion: either as a cautionary morality tale warning against ambition, or as a psychological study of evil. In Ambivalent Macbeth, renowned Shakespeare scholar R.S. White argues that these differing readings result from a profoundly ambivalent play, and that this quality is a clue to its greatness. Macbeth is often read in a singular fashion: either as a cautionary morality tale warning against ambition, or as a psychological study of evil. In Ambivalent Macbeth, renowned Shakespeare scholar R. S. White argues that these differing readings result from a profoundly ambivalent play, and that this quality is a clue to its greatness. White explores how radical ambivalence permeates the atmosphere, imagery, themes and characterisation of ‘the Scottish play’. He considers Shakespeare’s historical context and source material, and examines key cinematic, theatrical and other adaptations of the play. Throughout, he argues that an open-minded acceptance of ambivalence can inspire a multitude of readings, and that this complexity helps to explain the play’s intriguing longevity. Shakespeare studies & criticism, Literary Criticism: Shakespeare "Macbeth is often read in a singular fashion: either as a cautionary morality tale warning against ambition, or as a psychological study of evil. In Ambivalent Macbeth, renowned Shakespeare scholar R.S. White argues that these differing readings result from a profoundly ambivalent play, and that this quality is a clue to its greatness. White explores how radical ambivalence permeates the atmosphere, imagery, themes and characterisation of 'the Scottish play'. He considers Shakespeare's historical context and source material, and examines key cinematic, theatrical and other adaptations of the play. Throughout, he argues that an open-minded acceptance of ambivalence can inspire a multitude of readings, and that this complexity helps to explain the play's intriguing longevity"--Amazon.com Macbeth is often read in a singular fashion: either as a cautionary morality tale warning against ambition, or as a psychological study of evil. In Ambivalent Macbeth, renowned Shakespeare scholar R.S. White argues that these differing readings result from a profoundly ambivalent play, and that this quality is a clue to its greatness. White explores how radical ambivalence permeates the atmosphere, imagery, themes and characterisation of ‘the Scottish play’. He considers Shakespeare’s historical context and source material, and examines key cinematic, theatrical and other adaptations of the play. Throughout, he argues that an open-minded acceptance of ambivalence can inspire a multitude of readings, and that this complexity helps to explain the play’s intriguing longevity. -- Publisher