The Romantic Cult of Shakespeare : Literary Reception in Anthropological Perspective

Focusing on England, Hungary and on some other European countries, the book explores the latent religious patterns in the appropriation of Shakespeare from the 1769 Stratford Jubilee to the tercentenary of Shakespeare's birth in 1864. It shows how the Shakespeare cult used quasi-religious (verbal and ritual) means of reverence, how it made use of some romantic notions, and how the ensuing quasi-transcendental authority was utilized for political purposes. The book suggests a theoretical framework and a comprehensive anthropological context for the interpretation of literature.

This is the first book to look at the quasi-religious aspects of the romantic cult of Shakespeare. Focusing on England, Hungary, and some other European countries, the book explores the latent religious patterns in the appropriation of Shakespeare from the 1769 Stratford Jubilee to the tercentenary of 1864. Surveying both the verbal and non-verbal manifestations of the Shakespeare cult, the author highlights their analogies with those of traditional religious cults and shows the appropriation of Shakespeare and his texts to be inseparable from quasi-religious acts of reverence such as literary pilgrimages, relic worship, the erection and dedication of monuments, and public celebrations of anniversaries. This cult made use of some important romantic notions (genius, originality, imagination, transcendental analogies of artistic creation), and the ensuing quasi-transcendental authority was to be utilized for political purposes. The book suggests a theoretical framework and a comprehensive anthropological context for the interpretation of literature.

Focussing on England, Hungary, and to a lesser extent on several other European countries, Peter Davidhazi explores the latent religious patterns in the reception of Shakespeare from the 1769 Stratford Jubilee to the tercentenary celebrations of 1864. Surveying both the verbal and non-verbal manifestations of the Shakespeare cult, he highlights their analogies with those of traditional religious cults and shows the appropriation of Shakespeare and his texts to be inseparable from quasi-religious acts of reverence such as literary pilgrimages, relic worship, the erection and dedication of monuments, and public celebrations of anniversaries. This cult made use of some important romantic notions (genius, originality, imagination, transcendental analogies of artistic creation), and the ensuing quasi-transcendental authority was to be utilized for political purposes. Analysing this process Peter Davidhazi suggests a theoretical framework and a comprehensive anthropological context for the interpretation of literature Front Matter....Pages i-xiv The Exploration of a Literary Cult: Theoretical Assumptions and Methodological Problems....Pages 1-33 The Genesis of a Ritual: The Shakespeare Cult in English Romanticism....Pages 34-107 A Middle European Case Study: The Development of the Shakespeare Cult in Hungary....Pages 108-163 The European Context: Typological Problems of Dissemination....Pages 164-195 The Postponed Question of Judgement: Functions and Values Reconsidered....Pages 196-209 Back Matter....Pages 210-240