Shakespeare’s Representation of Weather, Climate and Environment: The Early Modern ‘Fated Sky’

The first in-depth exploration of Shakespeare’s representations of climate and the sky

While ecocritical approaches to literary texts receive more and more attention, climate-related issues remain fairly neglected, particularly in the field of Shakespeare studies. This monograph explores the importance of weather and changing skies in early modern England while acknowledging the fact that traditional representations and religious beliefs still fashioned people’s relations to meteorological phenomena. At the same time, a growing number of literati stood against determinism and defended free will, thereby insisting on the ability to act upon celestial forces. Sophie Chiari argues that Shakespeare reconciles the scholarly approaches of his time with popular views rooted in superstition and promotes a sensitive, pragmatic understanding of climatic events. Taking into account the influence of classical thought, each of the book’s seven chapters addresses a different play where sky-related topics are crucial and considers the way climatic phenomena were presented on stage and how they came to shape the production and reception of Shakespeare’s drama.
Key Features
Offers an all-encompassing approach on early modern climate in Shakespeare
Redefines the notion of ‘climate’ as Shakespeare’s contemporaries understood it
Suggests new hermeneutic tracks to understand Shakespeare’s major comedies and tragedies
Probes environmental issues in Shakespeare’s plays and, in doing so, echoes major concerns of the present time