Includes bibliographical references (pages 179-186) and index.
Contents:
Introduction: 'Am I that name'? -- 'Made to write "whore" upon?: male and female use of the word 'whore' -- 'Enough to make a whore forswear her trade': prostitution as woman's 'oldest profession' -- The heroic tragedy of Cleopatra: the 'prostitute queen' -- Female erotic passion: toward sex As You Like It -- Venus: mother of all 'whores' -- Stripping Shakespeare's 'whores' -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index.
Summary:
Shakespeare's 'Whores' examines female sexuality in Shakespeare's works in the context of the word 'whore,' historically (and still currently) employed as a weapon against women striving for self-actualization in any realm - political, social, or personal. Erotic expression for Shakespeare's women finds varying obstacles determined by the genre, or 'poetics', of the work, which influences its 'politics', but his poetic references to goddesses illuminate archetypal paths that his female characters may pursue. Each use of the word 'whore' in Shakespeare's canon is studied, as are female characters who toil in the sex trade, but with focus especially on the positive personal and social effects of female sexuality, as represented in several major female characters, from the goddess Venus, to the queen Cleopatra, to the cross-dressing Rosalind, and many others. Drawing on scholarship from various disciplines, this book demonstrates Shakespeare's relevance to contemporary socio-political issues and points toward new directions for feminism.--Back cover
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.